Aristocratic Society in Ancient Crete. -

Greenwood Press, Westport, 1980. Reprint 1st ed.1955. XV,280p. Oirignal orange cloth. Name and date on free endpaper. Nice copy. ?In this work Mr. Willetts deals with the social and political organization of an island which is something of a backwater in Greek historical studies. The kernel of the book is a study of the structure of Dorian Cretan society, involving the tribal organization and the classes into which the population was divided (free, ?apetairoi?, serfs, slaves), the citizen organizations comprising the ?agela?, ?hetaireia? and ?andreion?, and the family, with particular reference to matters of property and its transmission (involving a discussion of adoption, heiresses and kindred subjects). The political organization of the Cretan city-states is then examined, first in the epigraphical sources, then in the literary, and finally in a comparison of the two. (?) Finally an account is given of Cretan ?koinon?, the diplomatic and military relations of the cities with each other and with outside states, and the phenomena of mercenary service and piracy, especially characteristic of Hellenic Crete. (?) In general the closer the author keeps to a discussion of his epigraphical sources in particular, the greater the impression given of careful judgment; and it is the treatment of these sources and the painstaking study of the chief authorities on them which constitute the value of this book. (?) In general this is a valuable contribution to an important subject. (R.J. HOPPER in The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 1958, p.153).