Horoi: studies in mortgage, real security and land tenure in ancient Athens

John Van Antwerp Fine, American School of Classical Studies at Athens

American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Nov 21, 1951 - History - 216 pages

Horos markers were used to indicate when a property was mortgaged and who the creditors were. This study publishes known examples from ancient Athens and explores how the mortgage system may have worked. The book contains eight chapters: Chapter I presents 35 new horos mortgage inscriptions. Chapter II contains references to, or transcriptions of, all other known horos mortgage stones. Chapter III is devoted to a discussion of the use and physical properties of stone horoi and to the possible use of wooden horoi. Chapters V to VII provide careful analyses of the various kinds of contracts drawn up by the Athenians when the security consisted of real property. Chapter VIII attempts to date the introduction of mortgage contracts at Athens and to explain the lateness of this datethe earliest horos example probably dates to after the Peloponnesian War.

About the author

John V. A. Fine was Emeritus Professor of Classics at Princeton University.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Horoi: studies in mortgage, real security and land tenure in ancient Athens; Volume 9 of Hesperia Supplement, American School of Classical Studies at Athens; AIA monograph; Volume 9 of Hesperia (Princeton, N.J.).: Supplement; Volume 9 of Hesperia / The American Excavations in the Athenian Agora: Supplement; American excavations in the Athenian Agora
• Authors: John Van Antwerp Fine, American School of Classical Studies at Athens
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1951
• Length: 216 pages
• Subjects: Archaeology; Athens (Greece); Excavations (Archaeology); Greece; History / Ancient / Greece; Incriptions, Greek; Inscriptions, Greek; Land tenure (Greek law); Law, Greek; Mortgages (Greek law); Social Science / Archaeology