Jonah Patel
The Athenian Constitution, also known as The Constitution of the Athenians, is an ancient text describing the political system of Athens. It is attributed to Aristotle, although modern scholars debate how much of the work was written by his students. The text is unique in that it is not part of the Corpus Aristotelicum, having been lost for some time before its rediscovery in 1879. It is preserved on a papyrus roll from Hermopolis, published in 1891 and now housed in the British Library. The Athenian Constitution is a valuable historical document, providing insights into the political and social structures of ancient Athens, including the law of ostracism and the democratic reforms implemented.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Aristotle or one of his students |
| Date of writing | Between 328 and 322 BC |
| Date of translation | 350 BC |
| Translator | Sir Frederic G. Kenyon |
| Publisher | Penguin |
| Place of publication | Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England; New York, N.Y., U.S.A |
| Year of publication | 1984 |
| Surviving copies | Papyrus roll from Hermopolis, published in 1891 and now in the British Library; two leaves of a papyrus codex discovered in the Fayum in 1879 and now in the Egyptian Museum of Berlin; a second papyrus text purchased in Egypt by an American missionary in 1890 |
| Chapters with notable information | 21–22, 26.2–4, 39–40, 54, 62 |
| Related works | Corpus Aristotelicum |
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What You'll Learn
The Athenian Constitution: Authorship
The Athenian Constitution, also known as the Constitution of the Athenians, is a treatise on the constitution of Athens and is attributed to Aristotle or one of his students. It is written in Ancient Greek and is titled Ἀθηναίων πολιτεία, romanized as Athēnaiōn Politeia. The work is preserved on a papyrus roll from Hermopolis, published in 1891 and currently held in the British Library. A small part of the work also survives on two leaves of a papyrus codex, discovered in the Fayum in 1879, now in the Egyptian Museum of Berlin.
The Athenian Constitution is unique among Aristotle's works as it is not part of the Corpus Aristotelicum, which was preserved through medieval manuscripts. It was lost until two leaves of papyrus were discovered in 1879, published in 1880, and a second, more extensive papyrus text was purchased in Egypt in 1890. The text is significant as it provides contemporary information previously unknown or unreliable, leading historians to claim that its discovery constitutes a "new epoch in Greek historical study".
The authorship of the Athenian Constitution is disputed among modern scholars. Ancient sources credit Aristotle with compiling the constitutions of 158 Greek and non-Greek states, of which the Athenian Constitution is the only one to survive intact. However, it is speculated that Aristotle may have been assisted by his students in composing these works, and some scholars doubt that he wrote the Athenian Constitution himself. The text contains factual information not found in any other extant ancient text, and it is the only one of Aristotle's extant writings believed to have been intended for publication.
Based on internal evidence, scholars have determined that the Athenian Constitution was written no earlier than 328 BC and no later than 322 BC. For example, in Chapter 54, Aristotle mentions the Festival of Hephaestus, which corresponds to 329 BC, and in Chapter 62, he indicates that Athens was still sending officials to Samos, which was true until 322 BC. These details suggest that Aristotle or his students were writing about Athens from direct observation and contemporary knowledge.
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Date of Writing
The Athenian Constitution, also called the Constitution of the Athenians, is a work by Aristotle or one of his students. It describes the political system of ancient Athens. The work is preserved on a papyrus roll from Hermopolis, published in 1891 and now in the British Library. A small part of the work also survives on two leaves of a papyrus codex, discovered in the Fayum in 1879 and now in the papyrus collection of the Egyptian Museum of Berlin.
The dating of The Athenian Constitution has been a subject of debate among scholars. Based on internal evidence from the text, it is generally agreed that the work was written no earlier than 328 BCE and no later than 322 BCE. In Chapter 54, Aristotle mentions the Festival of Hephaestus, which was "instituted during the archonship of Cephisophon," corresponding to 329 BCE. Additionally, in Chapter 62, Aristotle indicates that Athens was still sending officials to Samos at the time of writing. After 322 BCE, Samos was no longer under Athenian control, providing a timeframe for the composition of the text.
The authorship of The Athenian Constitution has also been a topic of discussion among scholars. Ancient sources and modern scholars attribute the compilation of constitutions of 158 Greek and non-Greek states to Aristotle, with the Constitution of the Athenians being the only one to survive intact. However, there is debate about the extent of Aristotle's direct authorship, and it is suggested that he may have been assisted by his students. Some prominent scholars even doubt that Aristotle wrote the Constitution of the Athenians, while others argue that he at least provided a model for his students to follow.
The discovery and publication history of The Athenian Constitution is also noteworthy. The work was lost until the 19th century when two leaves of a papyrus codex carrying part of the text were discovered in the Fayum in 1879 and published in 1880. A second, more extensive papyrus text was purchased in Egypt by an American missionary in 1890. The discovery and publication of these papyrus fragments brought new light to the study of ancient Greek politics and society.
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Ancient Athens' Political System
The Athenian Constitution, also known as the Constitution of the Athenians, is a work by Aristotle or one of his students, describing the political system of ancient Athens. It is preserved on a papyrus roll from Hermopolis, published in 1891 and now in the British Library. The Athenian Constitution was written no earlier than 328 BC and no later than 322 BC.
Athenian democracy, or the political system of ancient Athens, developed around the 6th century BC in the Greek city-state (polis) of Athens, comprising the city of Athens and the surrounding territory of Attica. Athenian democracy focused on supporting liberty, equality, and security. By the late 4th century BC, as many as half of the over one thousand existing Greek cities might have been democracies.
Athenian democracy was introduced by the Athenian leader Cleisthenes, establishing voting rights for citizens, a supervising council, and a jury system. Athens developed a system in which every free Athenian man had a vote in the Assembly. Citizenship in ancient Athens was largely determined by birth, with those born to Athenian parents considered citizens and granted special privileges and protections over other residents in the city, who were deemed "non-citizens". Citizenry was a form of ethnic-national identity, and Athenians considered the circumstances of one's birth when assigning political identities and positions to citizens. While women were barred from voting and citizenship, they were granted the right to practice religion.
The second important institution in the Athenian political system was the boule, or Council of Five Hundred. The boule was a group of 500 men, 50 from each of the ten Athenian tribes, who served on the Council for one year. Unlike the ekklesia, the boule met every day and did most of the hands-on work of governance. It supervised government workers and was in charge of the navy and army. It also dealt with ambassadors and representatives from other city-states. Its main function was to decide what matters would come before the ekklesia, thus dictating how the entire democracy would work. Positions on the boule were chosen by lot and not by election, as this was considered more democratic, with pure chance unable to be influenced by money or popularity.
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Athenian Democracy
Athens was not the first Greek city-state to adopt a democratic constitution, but by the late 4th century BCE, as many as half of the over one thousand existing Greek cities might have been democracies. Solon, in 594 BCE, Cleisthenes, in 508–07 BCE, and Ephialtes, in 462 BCE, all contributed to the development of Athenian democracy. Notably, Cleisthenes broke up the unlimited power of the nobility by organising citizens into ten groups based on where they lived, rather than their wealth.
Under Athenian democracy, all male citizens (the dēmos) had equal political rights, freedom of speech, and the opportunity to participate directly in the political arena. Citizens could actively serve in the institutions that governed them, directly controlling all parts of the political process. Any male citizen could participate in the main democratic body of Athens, the assembly (ekklēsia). Each year, 500 names were chosen from all the citizens of ancient Athens, and those 500 citizens had to actively serve in the government for one year. During that year, they were responsible for making new laws, and all citizens of Athens had the opportunity to vote on proposed laws.
The Athenian Constitution, also known as the Constitution of the Athenians, is a work by Aristotle or one of his students. It describes the constitution and political system of ancient Athens. The Aristotelian text is unique because it is not a part of the Corpus Aristotelicum as preserved through medieval manuscripts. It was lost until two leaves of a papyrus codex carrying part of the text were discovered in the Fayum in 1879 and published in 1880. A second, more extensive papyrus text was purchased in Egypt by an American missionary in 1890 and is now in the British Library.
When citing The Athenian Constitution, the following information should be included:
- Aristotle.
- The Athenian Constitution.
- Place of publication: Publisher, Year of publication.
For example:
Aristotle. The Athenian Constitution. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England ; New York, N.Y., U.S.A. : Penguin, 1984.
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Sources and Preservation
The Athenian Constitution, also known as The Constitution of the Athenians, is a work by Aristotle or one of his students. It describes the constitution and political system of ancient Athens. The work is unique as it is not a part of the Corpus Aristotelicum, which was preserved through medieval manuscripts. It was lost until two leaves of a papyrus codex carrying part of the text were discovered in the Fayum in 1879 and published in 1880. A second, more extensive papyrus text was purchased in Egypt by an American missionary in 1890 and is now preserved in the British Library. A small part of the work also survives on two leaves of a papyrus codex, discovered in the Fayum in 1879 and now in the papyrus collection of the Egyptian Museum of Berlin.
The Athenian Constitution is believed to have been written between 328 BC and 322 BC. This is based on internal evidence from the text, such as references to the Festival of Hephaestus and Athens' control over Samos. Scholars have also debated the extent of Aristotle's personal authorship, as it is likely that he was at least assisted by his students.
When citing this historical document, it is important to include the author's name, the title of the work, the date of composition or publication, and the specific chapter or section being referenced. For example, a citation for a printed version of The Athenian Constitution could be structured as follows:
Aristotle. (1984). *The Athenian Constitution*. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England ; New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Penguin.
However, if you are referencing a specific chapter or section, the format would be:
Aristotle. (1984). Title of Chapter or Section. *The Athenian Constitution*. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England ; New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Penguin, Chapter or Section Number.
For electronic versions of the text, the citation structure may vary depending on the style guide you are using.
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Frequently asked questions
The Athenian Constitution, also called the Constitution of the Athenians, is a work by Aristotle or one of his students. It describes the political system and constitution of ancient Athens.
The Athenian Constitution was written between 328 BC and 322 BC.
The Athenian Constitution was first published in 1880 after being discovered in 1879. A second, more extensive papyrus text was published in 1891 and is now in the British Library.
To cite the Athenian Constitution, you must include the author, title, publication location, publisher, and year. For example: Aristotle. The Athenian Constitution. Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England ; New York, N.Y., U.S.A :Penguin, 1984.
