Social Tension and Inheritance by Lot in Three Greek Villages

Property-division by lot is known in various parts of Greece, although there is some variation in the type of property so divided, as well as in the social relationships concerned. In this brief analysis, three normative variations of the practice are examined in relation to local differences in kinship, residence, and inheritance rules. Lots are thereby shown to mark whichever categories of property are locally perceived as the primary focus of contention between coheirs. Thus, division by lot emerges as the constant through which the variables of inheritance and residence rules and kin relationships are balanced so as to avert conflict. It is thus a device the use of which transcends particularistic local norms.