BRIBERY IN CLASSICAL ATHENS Kellam ... - Historia Antigua

Conover Bribery in Classical Athens Chapter Five
understandings of what constituted dōrodokia, and what was the relationship between
these norms and the courts? The inherently political nature of dōrodokia also brings up
tangled questions about the relationship between law and politics. In short, did the courts
merely enforce norms concerning dōrodokia, or were dōrodokia suits used as deliberative
moments when such political norms were contested and ultimately legitimated by a mass
jury?
These are all central questions that will be explored in the next few chapters, as
we use the laws against dōrodokia as a case-study for understanding broader trends in the
relationship between Athenian law and society. Broadly speaking, we will be attempting
to trace the story of how Athenian dōrodokia legislation was created—that is, how legal
innovation came about in ancient Athens—and, consequently, what role this legislation
and the legal process it engendered played in Athenian society. On both counts my
approach diverges from that by recent scholars working on the legal regulation of bribery,
whether in the ancient Athenian setting or in more contemporary societies. This chapter
outlines the theoretical framework underpinning our analysis and then put this framework
to the test by examining what I argue was Athens’ first law against bribery.
214