Atimy

In ancient Greece, the atimy (of the old Greek ἀτιμία / atimía , “contempt”, of a privative α and of τιμή / timế , “honor”) is a deprivation total or partial of the civic rights, used at the time traditional of the Athenian Démocratie.

Definition

That which became makes ἄτιμος / átimos is unable to fulfill the political functions of a citizen. He cannot attend the assemblies, to exert the functions of sworn in the Héliée nor to bring proceedings in front of the courts. On the other hand, it preserves the statute of ἀστός / astós , i.e. citizen of stock. For this reason, it can transmit the citizenship to his children.

To exclude a citizen from the assembly is an effective way to put an end to its political ambition. The be party incapacity to legal proceedings to defend oneself against its adversaries puts in a very difficult social position. On a level plus ground with ground, the atimy means the loss of the small income which the judges for their work receive or which one perceives to assist at the assemblies, which can be serious in the case of people of modest means unable to work. The loss of such a political activity has moreover, undoubtedly, an important psychological impact.

Acts liable to the atimy

The atimy can be inflicted like a sorrow by the courts, but it - at least in theory - is also automatically applied for a certain number of acts, unquestionable public and others private.

Is struck of atimy that which cannot discharge a debt towards the State, for example a fine. There does not exist any limit higher than the fines than the courts can impose: they can thus exceed of much the whole fortune of a person. And since this debt is transmitted by heritage, the statute is transmitted in the same way. For example, a son can defend his private father of the electoral right before death of this one, but loses itself his rights after his death. The deserters, unworthy wire (having beaten their parents or having refused to ensure subsistence to them), those which wasted their fortune (by prodigality or negligence) or which are male prostitutes become also automatically atimoi .

Of atimy partial the indicter not having obtained is also struck a fifth of the voices in an legal action: it is a question of limiting the abuses the Sycophante professional S, or informers.

The non-observance of the atimy is regarded as an attack against the capacity of the people and can, if somebody trails the culprit in front of the courts, be worth the capital punishment to him.

Random links: