THE GREEK THEORY OF THE STATE. 



By Professor Edward North, L. H. D. 

 [Read before the Albany Institute, October 20, 1885.] 



The Greek theory of the state may be studied with new interest, 

 in view of the recent discoveries made at Olympia in western Greece 

 by explorers from Germany. Several characteristics of Hellenic civ- 

 ilization are illustrated by the prytaneum, or town hall of Olympia. 

 where victors were feasted on their return from battle. Previous to 

 this discovery no remains of a Greek council hall had been found, al- 

 though it was well known that the Athenians had their prytaneum 

 under the northern wall of the Acropolis. 



The Greek idea of the state as something sacred, impersonal and 

 supreme, had its visible expression in the prytaneum at Athens, 

 where the laws of Solon were hung up for inspection, and where a 

 perpetual, consecrated fire was kept burning on the city's public altar. 

 This fire represented worship, aspiration, intellectual life, autonomous 

 government. Similar council halls were built wherever the Greek 

 ideas of law and religion prevailed. There was something of political 

 and religious significance in the modest, unpretending exterior of 

 Athenian dwellings. The costly public buildings that crowned and 

 flanked the Acropolis emphasized the theory of the state's supr emacy. 

 The bronze image of Athena Promachos, wrought by Phidias from 

 spoils captured at Marathon, announced that at Athens the state was 

 every thing, the individual nothing, except as a loyal integer in the 

 fabric of state sovereignty. This idea gave constant inspiration to 



grew up to greatness at Athens, or were attracted thither from other 



With our early training in a different school of politics, and relig- 

 ious faith, it will always be a mystery to us that this idea of the state's 

 supremacy found such a welcome in the sympathies of the common 

 people at Athens. Pericles could have done nothing for art at Athens 



