CMS150 - Winter 2001

Trials of Conscience: Litigation

and the Rhetoric of Identity

 Aristocratic Constitution of Archaic Age (7th and 6th centuries, B.C.E.)

• Eupatridai - means "sons of noble fathers." Qualification for political office was blood line.
  
  
• Society divided into 4 classes:
  • eupatridai
  • agroikoi ("those who dwell in the country"); landowners of large estates who were not noble
  • georgoi ("farmers"); small farmers
  • geomoroi ("those who share the land"); probably refers to farmers who owned their own property but because of debt were required to pay a certain percentage of their yield to creditors.

   

• urban citizens had names (demiourgoi - "craftsmen") and thetes (literally "those hired;" poor people who owned no land), but no political role/power in society.

   

• The Areopagus ("Ares' Hill") was the principal political institution:
  • named for location (hill north-west of Acropolis)
  • tried homicide cases
  • debated and decided foreign/domestic policy for Athens
  • membership was restricted to members of the nobility who had held public office.
    
    
• In addition to the Council of the Areopagus, there were other political offices, whose holders were called "archontes" (leaders).

   

  • The archontes managed the municipal affairs of Athens (organized festivals, managed the courts, etc.). Originally there were 3 archons, one in charge of religion, one in charge of war, and one in charge of the courts. Over time the number of archons increased as the city grew. Many offices performed necessary functions (e.g. check merchants' weights and measures) but weren't particularly a source of great kleos or power. They're referred to as minor archonships.

     

  • The chief archon was called the eponymous archon because the Athenians named the year after him (so documents would read, "in the year when Solon was archon, we entered into this contract..."etc). He was the archon in charge of courts.

     

  • You had to be an eupatridai to run for the office of archon. You were elected by the Ekklesia (Assembly), which consisted of all citizens who met property qualifications (Thetes/demiourgoi couldn't vote, not clear if geomoroi were also denied).

     

  • Your term of office was 1 year. On election, you became a member of the Council. You retained membership in the council for life.

     

Before the reforms of Themistocles, the office was extremely important. All the archaic Athenians who a) attempted or b) resisted tyranny had been chief archons.