Marriage Contract from 4th Century, BC
The following marriage contract from the fourth century B.C. is between a man named Heraclides and his bride Demetria.
Contract Of Marriage Between Heraclides And Demetria
Heraclides takes Demetria of Cos for his legitimate wife and receives her from her father, Leptines of Cos, and her mother, Philotis. He is free and she is free. She brings cloths and jewels to value of a thousand drachmas. Hera clides undertakes to provide Demetria with everything necessary for a free woman. They will live in a place chosen by Leptines and Heraclides jointly. Should Demetria be found committing any act likely to harm her husband and bring shame on him, let all the possessions she has brought with her be confiscated, and let Heraclides declare why he has reproached Demetria before three arbiters whom they will choose jointly. Let it not be permitted to Heraclides to take another wife, which would be to do wrong to Demetria, nor to have children by another woman, nor to harm Demetria on any pretext whatsoever. If Heraclides be found committing any similar wron gs, he will be accused by Demetria before three arbiters whom they will have chosen jointly. Let Heraclides then return the dowry of a thousand drachmas and also pay a fine of a thousand silver drachmas of Alexander There shall be distraint on Heraclides and all his goods, both on sea and on land, to the benefit of Demetria and her authorized agents after executory judgement. The contract is executory in any place pleasing to the parties' witnesses.