metic

/met"ik/, n.

an alien resident of an ancient Greek city who paid a tax for the right to live there.

[1800-10; < LL metycus, var. of metoecus < Gk métoikos emigrant, equiv. to met- MET- + -oikos dwelling]

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(Greek, metoikos) Any resident foreigner, including freed slaves, in ancient Greece.

Although metics were free, they lacked full benefits of citizenship. For a small tax they enjoyed the protection of the law and most of a citizen's duties, including supporting public funds, financing festivals, and serving in the military, but they could neither marry a citizen nor own land. They were found in most states, Sparta being an exception. In Athens they represented one-third of the free population.

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▪ ancient Greek society

Greek  Metoikos,  

      in ancient Greece, any of the resident aliens, including freed slaves. Metics were found in most states except Sparta. In Athens, where they were most numerous, they occupied an intermediate position between visiting foreigners and citizens, having both privileges and duties. They were a recognized part of the community and specially protected by law, although subject to restrictions on marriage and property ownership. A significant source of manpower and skilled labour, they constituted a large part of the population of Athens by the 5th century BC. Cephalus, father of Lysias and a metic, was a character in Plato's Republic; Pasion, a metic and former slave, became a great Athenian banker of the 4th century BC.

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