In the Oedipus Tyrannus,[169] Sophocles apparently uses the expression “slave from the third mother” as implying that three descents were considered to confirm the position of the fourth generation as slave or citizen, or whatever the case might be. Oedipus assures Jokasta that her pedigree and status will remain unimpugned, even though the enquiry he is prosecuting establish him thrice-born a slave from slave mother, slave grandmother, and slave greatgrandmother.
In elections for sacred offices, which appear to have been about the last things laid open to the new citizen, the possession of three generations of privileged ancestors was in some places insisted on. There is an inscription to this effect belonging to [pg 074] Halikarnassos;[170] and some similar rule seems to have held good among the Jews.
“These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood (ἠγχιστεύθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς ἱερατείας).”[171]
The book of Nehemiah closes with the triumphant verse: “Thus I cleansed them from all strangers.”
Seventh generation in the Ordinances of Manu.
The rule in the Ordinances of Manu for the recovery of Brahman caste is just halfway between the tenth and the fourth generations—namely, the seventh, or greatgrandson of the greatgrandson of the first halfcaste. This is only the case when each generation marries a Brahman wife.
“If (the caste) produced from a Brahman by a Çudra woman keeps reproducing itself by nobler (marriage) this ignoble attains a noble family at the seventh union (Yuga).”[172]
Thus:—
If (1) the halfcaste marries a Brahman woman and
(2) his son do.
(3) his grandson do.
(4) his greatgrandson do.
(5) his son do.
(6) his grandson do.
(7) his greatgrandson do.—at last his family is restored to their lost high caste.