ATHENS. 



15 



Archons 

 made an 

 nual. 



Athens, have been transmitted to us, Meden, Acastus, Ar- 



\i~ ' hippus, Thersippus, Phorbas, Megacles, Diognetus, 



Phereclus, Ariphron, Thespicus, Agamestor, iEschy- 

 lus, Alcmeon. On the death of this last, the archon- 

 ship \va limited to ten years, and after passing, on 

 this footing, through six hands, a still greater change 

 took place. The a ;office was made annual, and was 

 divided among nine persons, who were to be chosen 

 by the people, but only out of the class of eupnlrhh, 

 or nobles. One was first in dignity, and gave his 

 name to the year. The second, under the title of 

 king, presided over religious rites. The polemarch, 

 at the first institution, had the superintendance of 

 every thing which related to war. The remaining six, 

 called the-imothette, exercised the judicial power. The 

 government became thus almost a complete aristo- 

 cracy, with a mixture, as yet small, of democracy. 

 Such a form of government was, however, peculiarly 

 exposed to party spirit, and contentions for power ; 

 these accordingly soon began to shew themselves. The 

 Alcmeonids, descendants of the last perpetual archon, 

 commanding, by their birth, a superiority of respect, 

 Cylon, a young man of distinction, indignant at this 

 preference, seized upon the citadel, with a party of 

 his adherents. He was obliged to fly, and his com- 

 panions, in spite of an oatli to the contrary, were 

 condemned and executed ; but the impiety of this 

 action brought thenceforth an odium on the opposite 

 party. 



Faction and discord, however, continuing to rage, 

 a desire arose to remedy them by the institution of 

 written laws, and Draco was chosen as the lawgiver. 

 This person, unexperienced in his office, and viewing 

 only the violence and disorder which prevailed, sought 

 to remedy them by a blind and indiscriminate seve- 

 rity. To every offence without distinction, he award- 

 ed the punishment of death, declaring, that " small 

 faults seemed to him worthy of death, and for fla- 

 grant offences he could find no higher punishment." 

 The atrocity of this code was soon found to* render 

 it incapable of execution ; Draco lost the public fa- 

 vour, and died in exile. 



This attempt having proved ineffectual, public dis- 

 turbances continued to increase. The people ac- 

 quired more and more influence in the government, 

 and mingling themselves with the parties among the 

 higher ojders, increased the confusion. It was still 

 exasperated by the inequality of property, and the 

 disputes between debtors and creditors, an eternal 

 source of discord in the ancient commonwealths. 

 Under these circumstances, the necessity for a new 

 legislator was felt, and all eyes were turned towards 

 Solon. This person had already distinguished him- 

 self in a very singular manner. Salamis had revolted 

 from the Athenians ; and the people had been so dis- 

 satisfied with several unsuccessful attempts to reduce 

 that island, that they tumultuously assembled, and 

 passed an edict, inflicting the pain of death on any 

 one who should propose farther measures to that ef- 

 fect. The nobility were highly indignant, and the 

 people themselves became ashamed of their proceed- 

 ing ; but no one durst propose to retract it. In 

 these circumstances, Solon determined to counterfeit 

 madness ; and rushing into the market-place in a fan- 

 tastic attire, recited a song, in which he lamented the 



A. C 624. 



.1 aws of 

 Draco. 



Of SoJoji. 



disgrace of the Athenian name by the loss of Sala- 

 mis, and urged his countrymen to efface it. The ex- 

 pedient prevailed ; an expedition against Salamis was 

 decreed, and Solon, being appointed commander, 

 made himself master of the island by a skilful stra- 

 tagem. 



In the business of legislation, however, Solon was 

 preceded by Epimenides, a Cretan, who was invited 

 to Athens, where he introduced a variety of religious 

 ceremonies, then ordinary instruments for holding the 

 minds of men in subjection. The good effects of these, 

 however, disappearing with himself, Solon was soon 

 after called upon to make a radical change in the 

 constitution of the state. 



The foundation of the system which he establish- 

 ed was laid in the supreme power, both legislative, 

 executive, and judicial, vested in the assembly of the 

 people. By them all laws were enacted ; every pub- 

 lic measure was determined ; and to them an appeal 

 lay from all courts of justice: they appointed to all 

 commands. After bestowing on them such powers, 

 it was vain to attempt imposing any limitations on 

 their authority. The supreme legislators were al- 

 ways able to break down any barrier which might 

 oppose their inclinations; and as every member of 

 the state was interested in courting their favour, there 

 woidd be no want of persons to instigate them to 

 such measures. 



Solon, however, in laying down the original plan 

 of the constitution, seems anxiously to have studied 

 to provide a balance against that extreme power of 

 the popular assembly, which he granted less perhaps 

 from his own inclination, than from finding them al- 

 ready the predominant order, possessing both the 

 inclination and ability to assert their claim to it. 

 Upon the higher ranks he conferred the exclusive 

 right to fill all offices in the state, and all commands 

 in the army and navy. He divided the citizens into 

 four classes, according to their wealth. The first class 

 consisted of those who had an income of 500 medim- 

 ni, or measures of corn ; these paid a talent into the 

 public treasury. The second was of those who pos- 

 sessed 300 measures ; these kept a horse, and served 

 in the cavalry ; they were thence called Hippeis, or 

 knights. The third, possessing ^00 measures, were 

 called Zeugites, and served in the heavy armed foot. 

 All under this were only called upon to serve in the 

 light armed foot, a description of force little respect- 

 ed among the Greeks, who sought, on every occa- 

 sion, to come to close combat. Such of them, how- 

 ever, as chose to afford the expense, might rank with 

 the heavy armed. A very large proportion went on 

 board the fleet, which was chiefly manned by this 

 order, and which became afterwards a most eligible 

 and lucrative service. 



All magistracies, and all commands in the army 

 and navy, could be filled only by the three first or- 

 ders. It does not appear that this exclusion of the 

 lower orders, which, at Rome, formed the grand 

 loarce of popular discontent, was considered as a 

 serious grievance at Athens. These offices, from 

 the- small salary annexed to them, and from the ne- 

 cessity of courting and feasting the people, were ex- 

 tremity expensive, and could not be filled but by 

 persons who possessed a considerable income. The 



Athens. 



A. C. 604. 



