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A Husband Speaks in His Own Defense Euphiletus’s testimony is an insightful document, accounting, first-hand life in Classical Greece. This article opens the door to the inner workings of Greek home life as it pertains to husband and wife, as well as family and servant. Because of the nature of this document, there is also a great deal one can learn about the citizen’s attitude towards the law. Euphiletus, after killing the man who seduced his wife made the case to the court that he was merely upholding the law. One can naturally assume that Euphiletus was not a man of great material wealth, he even said himself, and “I have a small house, which is divided into two.” (2, p46) It would seem that during 400 B.C. only the wealthy would have exposed access to the laws of the time. Although ordinary citizens would serve on the council of 500 and attend the assemblies, to make decisions regarding alliances etc… In Euphiletus’s plea for justice, he cited several laws in documents that he declared would free him. It becomes evident that the ordinary citizen truly must have been exposed to the law a great deal. Textbooks on Classical Greece rarely give an accurate depiction of Greek life, especially Greek home life. This document is profound in that it truly expresses the intimacy within the home. Western Civilizations can only give one a clue as to the inner workings of a family living during that time. This textbook is correct as we later see proved by Euphiletus that, “Perhaps Athenian women led less restricted lives than it might seem.
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