On the use and meaning of the terms teknon, pais, paidion, hyios and thygater in (some types of) Koan Hellenistic public inscriptions

Abstract

This paper contains an analysis of the use and meaning of different terms used for children in Koan subscription lists and in inscriptions related to the gymnasion, to games and to public processions. The terms are teknon, paidion, hyios, thygater and pais. The first four are found, in public epidoseis, always within a family frame of reference, and have normally been placed in a context of citizenship and social status. Basing myself on recent research in the field of childhood in ancient Greece and on the use of the terms in the Koan inscriptions I conclude that these four terms express different subadult age stages. The term pais is used to cover male children and youth in a more general context.