This paper outlines the main features of the guardianship on male and female orphans in fourth century BCE Athenian law, as they can be found in the judicial speeches and in the Athenaion Politeia. They are set in comparison with relevant provisions of the Gortyn Law Code and with a law from Ephesos. In the Appendix are discussed some new aspects of the discipline of guardianship which result from a fragment, recently found and published, of the judicial speech of Hyperides against Timandros.
