The starting-point of this book was the core of my Oxford D.Phil.
thesis, 'Notheia: Greek Bastardy to 30 BC' ( 1992), begun at Corpus
Christi College and completed at New College. The teaching of a
course on Women and Society in Ancient Greece at Swansea
in 1992-3 gave me the opportunity to rethink and elaborate upon
this material.

I thank first my D.Phil. supervisors, Dr S. R. F. Price, Dr P. S.
Derow, and Prof. W. G. G. Forrest. My examiners, Prof. J. K.
Davies and Dr R. Van Bremen, gave me much valuable help, as
did Dr O. Murray and the other (anonymous) examiners of the
1994 Connington prize, for which the thesis was also successfully
submitted.

For the Oxford Classical Monographs Committee Prof. P. J.
Parsons and Prof. M. Winterbottom helped on the administrative
side. Dr R. G. Osborne of Corpus Christi College gave me
generous help as my appointed adviser, although we could find
little to agree upon. For the Press itself Ms H. O'Shea, Ms L.
Gasson, Ms L. Alsop, and Ms J. Pritchard transformed the
manuscript into a book.

I have received moral support from senior colleagues in
teaching jobs: Mr F. Weiskittel and Dr W. G. Thalmann, both
formerly of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New
York, Mr R. Lane Fox and Dr J. B. Hainsworth of New College,
and Prof. C. Collard of University College, Swansea.

Many others have helped along the way. Dr J. N. Davidson has
been my richest source of references; conversations with Dr M.
Edwards have clarified my thought. I have received advice on
specific points from Dr P. G. McC. Brown, Dr N. S. R.
Hornblower, Dr S. C. Humphreys, Dr F. P. R. Just, the late Prof.
D. M. Lewis, Mrs E. Matthews, Prof. F. G. Millar, Dr R. C. T.
Parker, Dr C. Sourvinou-Inwood, Mr E. J. Stell, Dr J. C.
Trevett, Dr I. G. Tompkins, Dr M. Vickers, and Dr U.
Wartenberg.

-v-