At Athens on feast-days the members of the phratry assembled round their altar.

A victim was sacrificed and its flesh cooked on the altar, and divided among the members of the phratry, great care being taken that no stranger should be present.

A young Athenian was presented to the phratry by his father, who swore that the boy was his son.

A victim was sacrificed and cooked on the altar in the presence of all the members of the phratry; if they were doubtful of the boy's legitimacy, and hence wished to refuse him admittance, as they had the right to do, they refused to remove the flesh from the altar.

If they did not do this, but divided and partook of the flesh with the candidate, he was finally and irrevocably admitted to the phratry.