Kyrios
(
κύριος). A lord or guardian; a person charged with the
protection of such members of a family as were regarded as incapable of protecting themselves.
The early law of all countries takes notice of families only; in other words, it only takes
notice of persons exercising
patria potestas. Attic law, therefore,
subordinates a woman to her bloodrelations; though relieved from her parent's authority by his
death, she continues subject through life to her nearest male relations as guardians (Maine,
Ancient Law, p. 152 foll.). During marriage, of course, her husband was her
κύριος; but when this relation was terminated by death or
divorce, she acquired no more freedom than before, but returned to the guardianship of her own
family. The term
κύριος is applied to males only during
minority; the
κύριος of such was first, of course, the
father, secondly the guardian appointed by his will, thirdly the nearest male relative. In
cases of adoption, the natural father remained no longer the
κύριος of the adoptee. See
Adoptio;
Epitropos;
Kakosis.