Ancient Greece had no entitled nobility as such. Instead the aristocratic or upper class consisted of rich families who could trace their lineage back many generations, normally to a God or semi-divine Hero such as Heracles or Achilles. There a few such families in Gela, and any native will have heard of them and will know at least a little of the source of their fortune.
Eurypontid – an ancient family who trace their line back to the founder of Gela, Eurypontus himself. Their fortune rests upon the land they own which is rented out to tenant farmers
Hysanian – new arrivals to Gela, having arrived only a couple of years after the removal of Milos the Unjust, the Hysanians trace their family back to Hysanius, a great hero of an eastern Greek city. Their wealth until recently was founded upon the slave trade
Mylinean – Mylineus was a Hero of Gela who destroyed the pirate fleet that threatened its existence after its foundation. The Mylinean family has a long tradition of public service and until recently owned the Arena. Rumoured to have fallen on hard times …
More will be added as and when necessary
Tags: background, Gela
