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Further, mark the effrontery and impudence of the witness himself, who has claimed for himself Euctemon's daughterNamely, the widow of Chaeres, cf. Isaeus 6.51. as being an heiress and a fifth partThe words πέμπτου μέρους are certainly corrupt: there is no reason in law why a fifth part should have been claimed. No satisfactory emendation has been proposed. of Euctemon's estate as being adjudicable, while he has given evidence that Euctemon has a legitimate son. In doing so does he not clearly convict himself of having given false evidence? For obviously, if Euctemon had a legitimate son, his daughter could not be heiress or the estate adjudicable. To prove, then, that he made these claims, the clerk shall read you the depositions.
47
Depositions
47
Thus the contrary has been done of that which the law has prescribed; for according to the law no male or female bastard has any right, based on kinship, to participate in the cults or property of a family since the archonship of Eucleides403-402 B.C.; yet Androcles and Antidorus consider themselves entitled to rob the legitimate daughters of Euctemon and their issue, and to possess the property both of Euctemon and of Philoctemon.
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And the woman who destroyed Euctemon's reason and laid hold of so much property is so insolent, that relying on the help of our opponents, she shows her contempt not only for the members of Euctemon's family but for the whole city. When you have heard a single instance, you will easily realize the lawlessness of her conduct. Please take and read this law.
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LawThe law here cited must have been that which excluded slaves and women of immoral life from participating in the festival of the Thesmophoria celebrated in honor of Demeter and Persephone (see Isaeus 3.80 and note.).
