phratry

In ancient Greece, tribal subdivisions of households or families claiming a common kin relation. At the apex of each phratry were aristocratic clans that had certain hereditary rights, such as the right to hold priestly offices. Both phratries and clans were patrilineal. The Athenian phratry is well known. Every native Athenian male belonged to a phratry; they were concerned with such matters as legitimacy of descent and inheritance.

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