Understanding The Athenian Constitution's Purpose

The Athenian Constitution is a treatise on the political system of ancient Athens, written by Aristotle or one of his students. It is a history and analysis of Athens' political machinery between the seventh and fourth centuries BC, which stands as a model of democracy at a time when city-states lived under differing forms of government. The Athenian Constitution describes the major reforms of Solon, the rule of the tyrant Pisistratus and his sons, the emergence of democracy in which power was shared by all free male citizens, and the leadership of Pericles and the demagogues who followed him. It also examines the city's administration, including the council, officials, and judicial system. Aristotle is credited with compiling the constitutions of 158 Greek states, of which the Athenian Constitution is the only one to survive intact.

Explore related products

The Athenian Constitution (Penguin Classics)

$15.26 $17

The Athenian Constitution

$0.99 $3.9

The Rise and Fall of Athens (Penguin Classics)

$15.9 $22

The Archaeology of Athens

$39 $52.5

Athens: City of Wisdom

$18.96 $21.95

Frommer's Athens and the Greek Islands (Complete Guide)

$18.35 $24.95

Democracy and the role of the people

The Athenian Constitution, written by Aristotle or one of his students, describes the political system of ancient Athens. It is a treatise on the government of Athens, recounting the major reforms of Solon, the rule of the tyrant Pisistratus and his sons, the emergence of democracy, and the leadership of Pericles and subsequent demagogues.

The Athenian Constitution is an invaluable source of knowledge about the Athenian city-state and its development. It is a model of democracy, written at a time when city-states lived under differing forms of government. The writer analyses the city's administration, including the council, officials, and the judicial system.

The document outlines the democratic reforms that were made, such as the law of ostracism, which was originally passed as a precaution against men in high office taking advantage of their position, as Pisistratus had. The Athenians, "with the usual leniency of democracy", allowed all the partisans of the tyrants who had not joined in their evil deeds to remain in the city. The first person ostracised under this law was Hipparchus, son of Charmus, who had taken advantage of his position as a popular leader and general to make himself a tyrant.

The Athenian Constitution also describes the democratic reforms of Cleisthenes, which aimed to make the constitution more democratic than that of Solon. One such reform was that all who lived in any given deme were declared fellow-demesmen, so that new citizens would not be exposed by the habitual use of family names. Instead, men were officially described by the names of their demes, and Athenians would refer to one another by these names. Demarchs were also instituted, with the same duties as the previously existing Naucrari, and the demes took the place of the naucraries.

The document also outlines the role of the people in the Athenian democracy, such as the election of magistrates and the powers given to them, as well as the role of the Assembly in electing Superintendents of Mysteries and their duties in managing contests and sacrifices.

The rule of tyrants

The Athenian Constitution is a treatise on the government of Athens, written by Aristotle or one of his students in around 328-322 BC. It describes the political system of ancient Athens, including the rule of tyrants.

The Athenian Constitution provides an account of the rule of the tyrant Pisistratus and his sons. Pisistratus took advantage of his position as a popular leader and general to seize power and make himself tyrant. In response, the Athenians enacted a law of ostracism, which allowed them to exile individuals who posed a threat to the democracy. The first person ostracized under this law was Hipparchus, a relative of Pisistratus. Despite Pisistratus' rule, the Athenians allowed the partisans of the tyrants who had not joined in their evil deeds to remain in the city.

The Athenian Constitution also describes the reforms implemented by Solon, which made the constitution more democratic. Solon's reforms included allowing all citizens to retain their family and clan and religious rites according to ancestral custom. He also instituted Demarchs, who had the same duties as the previously existing Naucrari, and gave names to the demes or local areas.

Furthermore, the Athenian Constitution outlines the administration of Athens during the time of Aristotle, including the roles of various officials such as the Archons, Prytanes, and Market Commissioners (Agoranomi). It also provides information on the judicial system, with details of various suits and indictments brought before the law courts.

Overall, the Athenian Constitution offers a detailed insight into the political and social structures of ancient Athens, including the rule of tyrants and the subsequent democratic reforms. It serves as a valuable source of knowledge about the Athenian city-state and its evolution over time.

The role of magistrates

The Athenian Constitution describes the political system of ancient Athens, including the role of its magistrates. Magistrates played a crucial role in administering justice, maintaining market integrity, and overseeing religious ceremonies.

One of the key roles of magistrates in the Athenian Constitution was the administration of justice. The Archon, for example, presided over legal cases, including suits and indictments such as injury to parents or orphans, disputes over inheritances, and charges of mental derangement. The Archon also had the power to bring these cases before the law courts after conducting a preliminary inquiry. Additionally, the Archon was responsible for issuing proclamations and making administrative decisions, such as assigning Choregi to tragic poets.

The Athenian Constitution also outlines the role of other magistrates, such as the Market Commissioners (Agoranomi) and Commissioners of Weights and Measures (Metronomi). Market Commissioners were responsible for ensuring the purity and quality of goods sold in the market, while Commissioners of Weights and Measures ensured that sellers used fair weights and measures in their transactions. These commissioners were elected by lot, with specific numbers designated for the city and the port of Piraeus.

The King, another magistrate figure, played a significant role in overseeing religious ceremonies and managing ancestral sacrifices. The King also administered contests during festivals, such as the Lenaean Dionysia, and handled indictments for impiety and disputes regarding priestly rites.

The Athenian Constitution also mentions the law of ostracism, which was a mechanism to protect against men in high office abusing their power. This law allowed the people of Athens to ostracize individuals who posed a potential threat to the democratic system, such as Hipparchus, a relative of the tyrant Pisistratus.

Overall, the magistrates in the Athenian Constitution held significant power and responsibility in maintaining the integrity of the political system, ensuring fair practices in the market, administering justice, and overseeing religious ceremonies. Their roles were crucial in upholding the democratic ideals of ancient Athens.

Explore related products

Athens: A History of the World's First Democracy

$20 $40

The Hemlock Cup: Socrates, Athens and the Search for the Good Life

$14.99 $22

Athens Ancient Athenians flag banner 3x5ft Man Cave

$17.29

The World of Athens: An Introduction to Classical Athenian Culture (Reading Greek)

$42

Athens, 403 BC: A Democracy in Crisis? (Classical Scholarship in Translation)

$49.99 $49.99

Reign of the Phallus: Sexual Politics in Ancient Athens

$33.04 $41.95

The judicial system

The Athenian Constitution, written by Aristotle or one of his students, describes the political system of ancient Athens. It is a treatise on the Athenian constitution and provides an analysis of Athens' political machinery between the seventh and fourth centuries BC. It is an invaluable source of knowledge about the Athenian city-state and its development into a model of democracy.

The Athenian Constitution offers insights into the judicial system of ancient Athens, including the types of cases brought before the courts and the roles of various officials. The judicial system in Athens was an integral part of their democratic society.

The Archon played a crucial role in the Athenian judicial system. Upon taking office, the Archon would issue a proclamation protecting the property rights of individuals during their term. The Archon was also responsible for handling suits and indictments, conducting a preliminary inquiry before bringing cases to the law courts. The types of cases included:

• Injury to parents or orphans
• Injury to a ward of the state or an orphan's estate
• Mental derangement, where property destruction is involved
• Appointment of liquidators for shared property
• Determining guardianship and disputes over inheritances and wards of the state

The King also had judicial responsibilities, overseeing religious and sacred rites, as well as administering indictments for impiety and disputes related to priestly duties. All actions for homicide also came under the jurisdiction of the King.

Athens had various officials who ensured fairness in different areas of life. Market Commissioners (Agoranomi) were elected by lot to guarantee the purity and quality of goods sold in the market. Commissioners of Weights and Measures (Metronomi) were also chosen by lot to ensure fair trade practices. Corn Commissioners (Sitophylaces) monitored the pricing of unprepared corn, barley meal, and baked goods to maintain reasonable prices for consumers.

The Athenian Constitution also mentions the law of ostracism, a measure to protect against men in high office taking advantage of their positions. This law allowed the people of Athens to ostracize individuals who abused their power, such as Hipparchus, a relative of the tyrant Pisistratus.

The role of the Archon

The Athenian Constitution, written by Aristotle, describes the political system of ancient Athens. The role and function of the Archon within this system changed over time.

In the Archaic period, the Archon was the chief magistrate or magistrates in many Greek city-states, including Athens. The term "archon" means "ruler" or "lord", and was used as the title of a specific public office. In Athens, there was a council of archons that exerted a form of executive government. From the late 8th century BC, there were three archons: the archon eponymos, the polemarchos, and the archon basileus. The archon eponymos was the chief archon and presided over the Boule and Ecclesia, the ancient Athenian assemblies. The polemarchos was the head of the armed forces, and the archon basileus was responsible for civic religious arrangements and some major trials in the law courts. These positions were filled by elections from the aristocracy every ten years. After 683 BC, the offices were held for only one year, and the year was named after the archon eponymos.

In the 5th century BC, the institution of archons spread widely in the Aegean islands, mainly under Athenian influence. During this time, the system evolved to include nine concurrent archons, led by the three mentioned above. The other six were the thesmothetai, judicial officers.

Under the Cleisthenic constitution (508–c. 487 BC), archons were elected directly by the Ecclesia, and later chosen by lot from 500 previously elected candidates. After 487 BC, the archonships were assigned by lot to any citizen, and the polemarch's military duties were taken over by a new class of generals, the strategoi. The archon eponymos remained the titular head of state, but with reduced political importance. The archons were assisted by "junior archons", the thesmothetai. Ex-archons became life members of the Areopagus, a council that was no longer politically important.

Archons were also in charge of organizing festivals, bringing together poets, playwrights, actors, and wealthy citizen patrons. Each playwright was assigned a choregos, who would pay all expenses, and the archon also assigned each playwright their actors.

Frequently asked questions