Epikleros

A Epikleros ( ancient Greek ἐπίκληρος epíklēros, heiress '; plural ἐπίκληροι epíklēroi ) is the daughter of a man who died without a male heir; it was not genetic, but the estate went with her to her husband about.

The Epiklerat was an institution in the legal system of ancient Greece. Proved it is for Athens and Gortyn in Crete, in a similar form it was probably for Sparta.

In many Greek cities ( poleis ) women had no real inheritance. For transactions woman had to go through a male relative, her Kyrios ( κύριος ) are represented: in the case of an unmarried girl or a widow who had returned to her family home, this was usually her father or failing that, her brother or paternal uncle; but it could be her son. A married woman was represented by her husband.

If the father of an unmarried woman died without leaving a male heir, the daughter could not freely dispose of this heritage. For since she was not Kyrios ( " signatory " or household) of themselves, they could not exercise authority over others or over capacity. It became the epikleros, the heiress. She was now indeed de jure in possession of the inheritance ( οἶκος, oikos, literally " house", ie household or household ) of her father, but needed a new kyrios. In order to ensure the survival of the oikos, is comprehensive legislations developed on this subject. Thus was the next of kin of her father, his brother often obliged to marry the heiress. If he was already married, he could either reach a divorce from his wife in order to marry the heiress can, or leave the epikleros the next nearer relatives. The duty of the next of kin of the father to marry or to transfer to the next nearer existed even if the woman had little or no assets. Was not a relative willing to do so, the Archon had to force the closest relatives to provide them with a dowry and marry. Many details regarding the epikleroi and legal status of women in ancient Greece, especially their ability to gain possession are, however, not released.