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greek-customsfeatured in 11 works

Oath-Taking

The sworn invocation of gods as witnesses and avengers to guarantee a promise, treaty, or testimony, often sealed by sacrifice, libation, or touching a sacred object.

How it traveled

  1. Histories
    Thurii (Magna Graecia) · -425
    explains
  2. Hellenica
    Athens · -354
    explains
  3. Anabasis
    Athens · -354
    explains
  4. Cyropaedia
    Athens · -354
    explains
  5. Agesilaus
    Athens · -354
    explains
  6. Memorabilia
    Athens · -354
    explains
  7. Constitution of the Lacedaimonians
    Athens · -354
    explains
  8. Geography
    Amaseia · 24
    explains
  9. Quaestiones Romanae
    Chaeronea · 120
    explains
  10. Description of Greece
    · 180
    explains
  11. Deipnosophistae
    Naucratis · 230
    explains

Key passages(20)

Histories · Herodotus

Very high

There are no men who respect pledges more than the Arabians. This is how they give them: a man stands between the two pledging parties, and with a sharp stone cuts the palms of their hands, near the t

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Very high

As for giving sworn pledges to those who are to receive them, this is the Scythian way: they take blood from the parties to the agreement by making a little cut in the body with an awl or a knife, and

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Histories · Herodotus

Very high

Glaucus son of Epicydes, it is more profitable now To prevail by your oath and seize the money. Swear, for death awaits even the man who swears true. But Oath has a son, nameless; he is without hands

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Description of Greece · Pausanias

Very high

But the Zeus in the Council Chamber is of all the images of Zeus the one most likely to strike terror into the hearts of sinners. He is surnamed Oath-god, and in each hand he holds a thunderbolt. Besi

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Quaestiones Romanae · Plutarch

Very high

Why do they tell children, whenever they would swear by Hercules, not to do so under a roof, and bid them go out into the open air? Is it, as some relate, because they believe that Hercules had no ple

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Constitution of the Lacedaimonians · Xenophon

Very high

And they exchange oaths monthly, the Ephors on behalf of the state, the King for himself. And this is the King’s oath: I will reign according to the established laws of the state. And this the oath of

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Very high

In the end, Alcibiades made oath at Chrysopolis to the representatives of Pharnabazus, Mitrobates and Arnapes, and Pharnabazus at Calchedon to the representatives of Alcibiades, Euryptolemus and Dioti

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Very high

After this agreement had been reached, Tissaphernes made oath to the commissioners who were sent to him, Herippidas, Dercylidas, and Megillus, that in very truth and without guile he would negotiate t

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Very high

These oaths they sealed by sacrificing a bull, a boar, and a ram over a shield, the Greeks dipping a sword in the blood and the barbarians a lance.

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Very high

But Themison was very angry at being thus tricked on his oath and renounced his friendship with Etearchus; presently, he took the girl and sailed away, and so as to fulfill the oath that he had sworn

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Very high

As for their manner of swearing and divination, they lay their hands on the graves of the men reputed to have been the most just and good among them, and by these men they swear; their practice of div

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Very high

Then when day came, he invited the Barcaeans to confer with him, and they readily consented; at last all agreed to conditions of peace. This was done thus: standing on the hidden trench, they gave and

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Very high

When the sworn agreement was made, the townsfolk, trusting in it and opening all their gates, themselves came out of the city, and let all their enemies who so desired enter within the walls. But the

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Very high

for when the Scythians will swear their mightiest oath, it is by the king's hearth that they are accustomed to swear. Immediately, the man whom they allege to have sworn falsely is seized and brought

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Very high

May I not be the son of Darius son of Hystaspes son of Arsames son of Ariaramnes son of Teispes son of Cyrus son of Cambyses son of Teispes son of Achaemenes, if I do not have vengeance on the Athenia

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Very high

Against all of these the Greeks who declared war with the foreigner entered into a sworn agreement, which was this: that if they should be victorious, they would dedicate to the god of Delphi [22.5167

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Description of Greece · Pausanias

Very high

Further on is what is called the Tomb of Horse. For Tyndareus, having sacrificed a horse here, administered an oath to the suitors of Helen, making them stand upon the pieces of the horse. The oath wa

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Description of Greece · Pausanias

Very high

An oath is also taken by those who examine the boys, or the foals entering for races, that they will decide fairly and without taking bribes, and that they will keep secret what they learn about a can

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Description of Greece · Pausanias

Very high

Homer proves this point clearly. For the boar, on the slices of which Agamemnon swore that verily Briseis had not lain with him, Homer says was thrown by the herald into the sea.He spake, and cut the

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Agesilaus · Xenophon

Very high

This, then, was his first act in Asia. Tissaphernes had sworn the following oath to Agesilaus: If you will arrange an armistice to last until the return of the messengers whom I will send to the King,

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