metic (redirected from Métèques)

metic

(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.