As noted in my January 9, 2014 post, the lives of Spartan women were completely unlike those of their Greek sisters, and I’m continuing my series on these differences with today’s fact:
Spartan daughters could inherit property.
Half the amount their brothers received, to be exact. Actually, Sparta was not unique in this respect. Inheritance laws of Gortyn (Crete) also allocated that amount to their daughters.
In contrast, an Athenian girl received nothing. If she were her father’s only offspring, she was actually considered part of the inheritance. In that case, the property would go to her father’s closest male relative, who would marry her to seal the deal.
Tune in next week for more about the Spartan women!
Keeping It In Canon ...mostly 