Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/106

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100 THE FAMILY. BCIOK II. his descent through liis daughter, by giving her a hus- band on tliis special condition. The son who was born of such a union was reputed the son of the wife's fither; follow'ed liis worship; assisted at liis religious ceremonies; and, lajer, guarded his tomb.' In Hindu law this child inherited from his grandfather, as if he had been his son; it was exactly the same at Athens. When the father had married his daughter in the manner we have described, his heir was neither his daughter nor his son-in-law; it was the daughter's son.* As soon as the latter had attained his ma- jority, he took possession of the patrimony of his mater- .lal grandfather, though his father and mother were still living.^ This singular tolerance of religion and law confirms the rule which we have already pointed out. The daughter was not qualified to inherit; but, by a very natural softening of the rigor of this princijtle, the only daughter was considered as an intermediary by whom the family might be continued. She did not inherit; but the worship and the inheritance were transmitted through hei'. 3. Of the Collateral Succession. A man died without children; to know who the heir of his estate was, we have only to learn who was qual- ified to continue his worship. Now, the domestic religion was transmitted by blood from male to male. The descent in the male line alone ' Isaeus, VII.

  • lie was not called the grandson; they gave him the par-

licular name of ^vyaTqiSuvg.

  • I-aeus, VIII. 31; X. 12. Demosllienes, in Steph., II. 20.