Deme

Pinakia, identification tablets (name, father's name, deme) used for tasks like jury selection, Museum at the Ancient Agora of Athens

In Ancient Greece, a deme or demos (Greek: δῆμος) was a suburb of Athens or a subdivision of Attica, the region of Greece surrounding Athens. Demes as simple subdivisions of land in the countryside seem to have existed in the 6th century BC and earlier, but did not acquire particular significance until the reforms of Cleisthenes in 508 BC. In those reforms, enrollment in the citizen-lists of a deme became the requirement for citizenship; prior to that time, citizenship had been based on membership in a phratry, or family group. At this same time, demes were established in the city of Athens itself, where they had not previously existed; in all, at the end of Cleisthenes' reforms, Attica was divided into 139 demes^[1] to which one should add Berenikidai, established in 224/223 BC, Apollonieis (201/200 BC) and Antinoeis (126/127). The establishment of demes as the fundamental units of the state weakened the gene, or aristocratic family groups, that had dominated the phratries.^[2]

A deme functioned to some degree as a polis in miniature, and indeed some demes, such as Eleusis and Acharnae, were in fact significant towns. Each deme had a demarchos who supervised its affairs; various other civil, religious, and military functionaries existed in various demes. Demes held their own religious festivals and collected and spent revenue.^[3]

Demes were combined with other demes from the same area to make trittyes, larger population groups, which in turn were combined to form the ten tribes, or phyles of Athens. Each tribe contained one trittys from each of three regions: the city, the coast, and the inland area.

Cleisthenes' reforms and its modifications

First period: 508 – 307/306 BC

trittyes ("thirtieth"), ten for each of the zones and into ten tribes, or phyle, each composed of three trittyes, one from the coast, one from the city, and one from the inland area.

Boule, created with 400 members under Solon, so that it had 500 members, 50 from each tribe, each deme having a fixed quota.

The ten tribes were named after legendary heroes and came to have an official order:

1. Erechtheis (Ἐρεχθηΐς) named after Erechtheus
2. Aigeis (Αἰγηΐς) named after Aegeus
3. Pandionis (Πανδιονίς) named after Pandion
4. Leontis (Λεοντίς) named after Leos, son of Orpheus
5. Acamantis (Ἀκαμαντίς) named after Acamas
6. Oineis (Οἰνηΐς) named after Oeneus
7. Kekropis (Κεκροπίς) named after Cécrops
8. Hippothontis (Ἱπποθοντίς) named after Hippothoon
9. Aiantis (Αἰαντίς) named after Ajax
10. Antiochis (Ἀντιοχίς) named after Antiochus, son of Heracles

Second period: 307/306 – 224/223 BC

In 307/306 – 224/223 BC the system was reorganized creating the two Macedonian Phylay (XI. Antigonis and XII. Demetrias), named after Demetrius I of Macedon and Antigonus I Monophthalmus, and increasing the Boule to 600 members. Each of the ten tribes, except Aiantis, provide 3 demes (not necessarily one for trittyes); the missing contribution of Aiantis is covered by two demes of Leontis and 1 from Aigeis.

In connection the contribution of each village to the Boule is properly adapted.

Third period: 224/223 – 201/200 BC

The Egyptian Phyle XIII. Ptolemais, named after Ptolemy III Euergetes is created in 224/223 BC and the Boule increases to 600 members, the twelve tribes giving each a demos; moreover a new village is creatied and named Berenikidai, after Ptolemy's wife Berenice II of Egypt.

Fourth period: 201/200 BC – 126/127 AD

In 201/200 BC the Macedonian Phylae are dissolved and the villages (except the two given to Ptolemais) go back to the original tribe. Moreover, in spring 200 BC the tribe XIV. Attalis, named after Attalus I, is created following the same scheme used for the creation of the Egyptian Phyle: each tribe contributes a deme and a new deme, Apollonieis, is created in honour of Apollonis, wife of Attalus I of Pergamum. As a consequence we have again 12 tribeas and 600 members of the Boule.

From this period there are no more quotas assigned to the demes for the 50 Boule members of each tribe

Fifth period: 126/127 – third century

The last modification is the creation in 126/127 of XV. Hadrianis, named after Hadrian following the same scheme: each tribe contributes a deme and a new deme, Antinoeis is created in honour of Hadrian's favorite, Antinous.

More over each tribe contributes 40 members to the Boule.

Representation in the Boule

In the first three periods there it a more detailed system of fixed quotas which essentially remained unchanged. There is no evidence for a single general reapportionment of quotas within each of the first three periods, while there are evident small quota-variations between the first and the second periods.^[5]

More precisely in:

307/306 BC, 24 demes increased of 1 bouleutes, 13 of 2, 5 or 3, 6 of 4 and 1 (Lower Paiania) of 11 and there is not a single example of a decreased quota.^[6]

224/223 BC 4 demes increased of 1 bouleutes, 1 of 2, 2 or 3 and 2 of 4; of the 56 demes whose quota in the third period are known more than half maintain their same quota through the first three periods.^[7]

As regards the last two periods, the material illustrates the complete collapse of the quota-system from 201/200 BC.^[8]

Spurious and Late Roman demes

Some deme lists suggest to extend the 139+3 list adding 43 other names some of which have been considered by scholars as attic demes.^[9] The criticism performed by John S. Traill^[10] shows that 24 are the result of error, ancient^[11] or modern,^[12] or of misinterpretation^[13] and 19^[14] are well known chiefly from inscriptions of the second and third centuries after Christ, i.e. in the fifth period, and thus for political purposes they were originally dependent on legitimate cleisthenic demes.

Homonymous and divided demes

There are^[15] 6 pairs of homonymous demes:

• Halai Araphenides (VII.Kekropis) and Halai Aixonides (II.Aigeis)
• Oion Dekeleikon (VIII.Hippothontis; later XIII.Ptolemais, XIV.Attalis) and Oion Kerameikon (IV.Leontis; affiliated with XII.Demetrias in the Macedonanian period)
• Eitea: there were two demes of that name, but no modifier is known. One is associated to V.Acamantis, later XI.Antigonis and XV.Hadrianis; the other is associated to X.Antiochis
• Oinoe: again no modifier is known; one deme was associated to VIII.Hippothontis, later XII.Demetrias and XIII.Ptolemais; the other was associated to IX.Aiantis, later XIV.Attalis and XV.Hadrianis.
• Kolonai: again no modifier is known; one deme was associated to IV.Leontis; the other to X.Antiochis, later XI.Antigonis and XIII.Ptolemais.
• Eroiadai: again no modifier is known for these two demes associated to VIII.Hippothontis and X.Antiochis.

and 6 divided demes, one composed of three parts:

• Agryle, Upper and Lower (I.Erechtheis); one of them, but there is no prosopographical information for identifying which, was transferred to XI.Antigonis and went back at the end of the Macedonanian period; later one of them (again it is uncertain which) was transferred to XIV.Attalis.
• Lamptrai, Upper and Coastal/Lower (I.Erechtheis); Upper Lamptrai was transferred to XI.Antigonis and went back at the end of the Macedonanian period.
• Pergase, Upper and Lower (I.Erechtheis); one of them (no prosopographical information allows to decide which) was transferred to XI.Antigonis and went back at the end of the Macedonanian period.
• Ankale: no special designations of either section are preserved, although they are presumed to have the regular Upper and Lower forms. One section, perhaps Upper Ankale, was transferred to XI.Antigonis and went back at the end of the Macedonanian period.
• Paiania, Upper and Lower (III.Pandionis); Upper Paiania, was transferred to XI.Antigonis and went back at the end of the Macedonanian period.
• Potamos has three sections, Upper Potamos, Lower Potamos and Potamos Deiradiotes (IV.Leontes); during the Macedonanian period, Potamos Deiradiotes belonged to XI.Antigonis and Lower Potamos to XII.Demetrias

List of Athenian demes according to tribes/phylai (φυλαί)

The ten Cleisthenic tribes

1. Erechtheïs (Ἐρεχθηΐς)^[16]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]	Notes
   				city
   Upper Agryle	2	3	3	One deme to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods and to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Lower Agryle	2
   Euonymon	10	12	12
   Themakos	1	1		to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
   				coast
   Anagyrous	6	8	8
   Kedoi	2	2	2
   Upper Lamprai	5			to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Coast Lamprai	9	10	10
   Pambotai	1(0)	1	2	to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Kephisia (?)				inland
   Kephisia	6	8	8
   Upper Pergase	2	3	3	One deme to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Lower Pergase	2
   Phegous	1	1	1
   Sybridai	0(1)	1	1
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]	Notes

2. Aigeis (Αἰγηΐς)^[20]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes
   			city
   Upper Ankile	1		to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Lower Ankile	1	1
   Bate	1(2)	1
   Diomeia	1		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
   Erikeia	1	2
   Hestiaia	1	1
   Kollytos	3	4
   Kolonos	2	2
   			coast
   Araphen	2	2
   Halai Araphenides	5	9
   Otrine	1	1
   Phegaia	3(4)	3(4)	to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Philaidai	3	3
   Epakria			inland
   Erchia	7(6)	11
   Gargettos	4		to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Ikarion	5(4)		to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods and to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Ionidai	2(1)	2
   Kyndatidai	1(2)	1(2)	to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
   Myrrhinoutta	1	1
   Plotheia	1	2
   Teithras	4	4
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes

3. Pandionis (Πανδιονίς)^[21]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]	Notes
   Kydathenaion				city
   Kydathenaion	12(11)			to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Myrrhinous				coast
   Angele	2(3)	4	4
   Myrrhinous	6	8	8
   Prasiai	3	3	3
   Probalinthos	5	5	5	to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Steiria	3	3	4
   Paiania				inland
   Konthyle	1	1		to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
   Kytheros	2(1)			to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Oa	4	4	4	to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Upper Paiania	1			to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Lower Paiania	11	22	22
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]	Notes

4. Leontis (Λεοντίς)^[22][23]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]	Notes
   Skambonidai				city
   Halimous	3	3	3
   Kettos	3	3(4)	3
   Leukonoion	3	5	5
   Oion Kerameikon	1			to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
   Skambronidai	3	4	4	to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Upper Potamos	2	2	2
   Lower Potamos	1			to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
   Phrearrhioi				coast
   Deiradiotai	2			to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Potamioi Deiradiotai	2			to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Phrearrhioi	9	9	10
   Sounion	4	6	6	to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Hekale (?)				inland
   Aithalidai	2			to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Cholleidai	2	5	5
   Eupyridai	2	2	2
   Hekale	1	1		to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
   Hybadai	2	2(1)	2
   Kolonai	2	2	2
   Kropidai	1	1	1
   Paionidai	3	3	3
   Pelekes	2	2	2
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]	Notes

5. Akamantis (Ἀκαμαντίς)^[24]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes
   Cholargos			city
   Cholargos	4	6
   Eiresidai	1	2
   Hermos	2	2
   Iphistiadai	1	1
   Kerameis	6	6
   Thorikos			coast
   Kephale	9	12
   Poros	3		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
   Thorikos	5(6)	6
   Sphettos			inland
   Eitea	2		to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods and to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Hagnous	5		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods and to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Kikynna	2	3
   Prospalta	5	5	to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
   Sphettos	5	7
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes

6. Oeneïs (Οἰνηΐς)^[25]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes
   Lakiadai			city
   Boutadai	1	1	to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
   Epikephisia	1(2)	1
   Hippotomadai	1		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
   Lakiadai	2	3
   Lousia	1	1
   Perithoidai	3	3
   Ptelea	1	1
   Tyrmeidai	1(0)	1	to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Thria			coast
   Kothokidai	2(1)		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third period
   Oe	6(7)	6
   Phyle	2		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third period
   Thria	7	8	to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Pedion			inland
   Acharnae	22	25
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes

   
   

7. Kekropis (Κεκροπίς)^[26]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes
   Melite (?)			city
   Daidalidai	1		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods and to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Melite	7		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
   Xypete	7		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
   Aixone(?)			coast
   Aixone	8	12
   Halai Aixonides	6	10
   			inland
   Athmonon	6	10	to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Epieikidai	1	1(0)
   Phlya	7	9	to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
   Pithos	2(3)	4
   Sypalettos	2	2	[27]
   Trinemeia	2	2
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes

   
   

8. Hippothontis (Ἱπποθοντίς)^[28]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes
   Peiraieus			city
   Hamaxanteia	2	2
   Keiriadai	2	2
   Koile	3		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
   Korydallos	1	1	to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Peiraieus	9	10
   Thymaitadai	2	2
   Eleusis			coast
   Acherdous	1	1
   Auridai	1		to XI.Antigonis in the second and third periods
   Azenia	2	2
   Elaious	1	1	to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Eleusis	11	12
   Kopros	2	2
   Oinoe	2		to XII.Demetrias in the second and to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
   Dekeleia (?)			inland
   Anakaia	3	3
   Eroiadai	1	2
   Dekeleia	4	6
   Oion Dekeleikon	3	3	to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period and to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes

9. Aiantis (Αἰαντίς) ^[29]

   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]	Notes
   Phaleron (?)			city
   Phaleron	9	9	13
   Thorikos			coast
   Marathon	10	10	13
   Oinoe	4	4	6	to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period and to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Rhamnous	8	8	12
   Trikorynthos	3	3	6	to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Aphidna (?)			inland
   Aphidna	16	16		to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period and to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
   Deme	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]	Notes

   
   

10. Antiochis (Ἀντιοχίς)^[30]

    Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes
    Alopeke			city
    Alopeke	10	12
    Anaphlistos			coast
    Aigilia	6	7	to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
    Amphitrope	2	3
    Anaphlystos	10	11
    Atene	3		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods and to XIV.Attalis in the fourth period
    Besa	2	2	to XV.Hadrianis in the fifth period
    Thorai	4		to XII.Demetrias in the second and third periods
    Pallene			inland
    Eitea	2(1)	2
    Eroidai	1	1
    Kolonai	2		to XI.Antigonis in the second period and to XIII.Ptolemais in the third period
    Krioa	1	2
    Pallene	6(7)	9
    Semachidai	1	1
    Deme	#[17]	#[18]	Notes

The Macedonian tribes

11. Antigonis^[31]

    Deme	Former phyle	Trittys	#[17]	#[18]
    Lower Agryle	Erachtheis	city	3	3
    Upper Lamptrai	Erachtheis	coast	5	5
    Lower Pergase	Erachtheis	inland	2	2
    Upper Ankyle	Aigeis	city	1	1
    Ikarion	Aigeis	inland	5	6
    Kydathenaion	Pandionis	city	12	12
    Kytheros	Pandionis	inland	2	2
    Upper Paiania	Pandionis	inland	1	1
    Aithalidai	Leontis	inland	2	2
    Deiradiotai	Leontis	coast	2	2
    Potamos Deiradiotes	Leontis	coast	2	2
    Eitea	Akamantis	inland	2	2
    Auridai	Hippothontis	coast	1	1
    Kolonai	Antiochis	inland	2	2

12. Demetrias^[32]

    Deme	Former phyle	Trittys	#[17]	#[18]
    Diomeia	Aigeis	city	1	1
    Oion Kerameikon	Leontis	city	1	1
    Lower Potamos	Leontis	coast	1	2
    Hagnous	Akamantis	inland	5	5
    Poros	Akamantis	coast	3	3
    Hippotomadai	Oineis	city	1	1
    Kothokidai	Oineis	coast	2	2
    Phyle	Oineis	coast	2	6
    Daidalidai	Kekropis	city	1	1
    Melite	Kekropis	city	7	7
    Kypete	Kekropis	city	7	7
    Koile	Hippothontis	city	3	3
    Oinoe	Hippothontis	coast	2	2
    Atene	Antiochis	coast	3	4
    Thorai	Antiochis	coast	4	5

The later tribes

13. Ptolemais^[33]

    Deme	Former phyle	Trittys	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]
    Kolonai	Antigonis	inland	2	2	2
    Oinoe	Demetrias	coast	2	2	2
    Themakos	Erechteis	city	1	1	1
    Kydantidai	Aigeis	inland	1 (2)	1 (2)	1
    Konthyle	Pandionis	inland	1	1	1
    Hekale	Leontis	inland	1	1	1
    Prospalta	Akamantis	inland	5	5	5
    Boutadai	Oineis	city	1	1	1
    Phlya	Kekropis	inland	6	9	9
    Oion Dekeleikon	Hippothontis	inland	3	3	3
    Aphidna	Aiantis	inland	16	16	16
    Aigilia	Antiochis	coast	6	7	7
    Berenikidai		new			1

14. Attalis^[34]

    Deme	Former phyle	Trittys	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]
    Lower Agrile	Erechteis	city	3	3	3
    Ikarion	Aigeis	inland	5 (4)	6	6
    Probalinthos	Pandionis	coast	5	5	5
    Sounion	Leontis	coast	4	6	6
    Oion Dekailekon	Ptolemais	inlamd	3	3	3
    Hagnous	Akamantis	inland	5	5	5
    Tyrmeidai	Oineis	city	1(0)	1	1
    Athmonon	Kekropis	inland	6	10	10
    Korydallos	Hippothontis	city	3	3	3
    Oinoe	Aiantis	coast	4	4	6
    Atene	Antiochis	coast	3	4	4
    Apollonieis		new

15. Hadrianis^[35]

    Deme	Former phyle	Trittys	#[17]	#[18]	#[19]
    Pambotadai	Erechteis	coast	1 (0)	1 (0)	2
    Phegaia	Aigeis	coast	3 (4)	3 (4)	4
    Oa	Pandionis	inland	4	4	4
    Skambonidai	Leontis	city	3	4	4
    Aphidna	Ptolemais	inlamd	16	16	16
    Eitea	Akamantis	inland	2	2	2
    Thria	Oineis	coast	7	8	8
    Daidalidai	Kekropis	city	1	1	1
    Elaious	Hippothontis	coast	1	1	1
    Trikorynthos	Aiantis	coast	3	3	6
    Besa	Antiochis	coast	2	2	2
    Oinoe	Attalis	coast	4	4	6
    Antinoeis		new

The ten tribes of Thurii

When the city was settled under the support of Arcadia, 2. Achaea, 3. Elis, 4. Boeotia, 5. Delphi, 6. Dorians, 7. Ionians, 8. population of Euboea, 9. the islands and 10. Athenians.^[36]

Later usage

The term "deme" (dēmos) survived into the Hellenistic and Roman eras. By the time of the Byzantine Empire, the term was used to refer to one of the four chariot racing factions, the Reds, the Blues, the Greens and the Whites.

In modern Greece, the term dēmos is used to denote the municipalities.

Footnotes

References

• Traill, John S. (1975). The Political Organization of Attica. Amsterdam:  
• Fine, John V. A. The Ancient Greeks: A critical history (Harvard University Press, 1983). ISBN 0-674-03314-0.
• Hornblower, Simon, and Anthony Spawforth, ed., The Oxford Classical Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 2003). ISBN 0-19-866172-X.
• Meritt, B. D. The Athenian Year. Berkeley, 1961.
• Suzanne, Bernard (1998). plato-dialogues.org, "Attic Tribes and Demes". Accessed August 1, 2006.
• Whitehead, David. The Demes of Attica 508/7–ca. 250 BC: A Political and Social Study (Princeton University Press, 1986).