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Xenia in Classical Economies: The Function of Ritualized Interpersonal Relationships in Athenian Trade

by Morgan C Kostiew

Institution:	University of Western Ontario
Year:	2017
Keywords:	Classical Athens; ancient economies; xenia; ritualized interpersonal relationships; New Institutional Economics; substantivism; Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity; Classical Literature and Philology; Other Classics
Posted:	02/01/2018
Record ID:	2154979
Full text PDF:	https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/4514

Abstract

Drawing on Norths New Institutional Economics (enhanced by Finleys substantivist model), this thesis contributes to ancient economic theories by analyzing the role of the social institution of xenia in Classical Athenian economies. The significance of this ritualized interpersonal relationship has not yet been sufficiently appreciated, especially regarding its effects as a structural determinant on economic performance within specific trade mechanisms.The case study of two particular economic services, provided by the Athenian aristocrat Andocides through his xenia with Archilaus of Macedon and Evagoras of Cyprus (And. 2.11 and 20-21) not only illustrates the significant effect of such ritualized personal relationships on the Athenian timber and grain trade but also allows us to gauge the quantitative impact of xenia on these two Athenian economies. The honorific decrees for Archelaus (proxenia: IG I3 117) and Evagoras (citizenship: IG I3 113) corroborate the importance of xenia-based trade services on Classical Athenian economies.