Eleanor Finch
The Constitution of the Athenians, also known as the Athenian Constitution, is a treatise on the Athenian constitution written by Aristotle or one of his students. It is thought to have been written between 328 and 322 BC, during the time Aristotle was living in Athens. The treatise is a significant source of information on Athens' development and how its democracy worked. It is one of 158 constitutions of various Greek states that ancient accounts credit Aristotle with writing, although modern scholars debate how much of the authorship can be attributed to Aristotle personally.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year written | Between 328 and 322 BC |
| Author | Aristotle or one of his students |
| Content | History and analysis of Athens' political machinery between the 7th and 4th centuries BC |
| Importance | A significant work in antiquity, the only one of Aristotle's writings intended for publication, and a primary source for Classical Athens |
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What You'll Learn
The authorship of the Constitution of the Athenians is disputed
The Constitution of the Athenians is a treatise on the Athenian constitution, providing an analysis of Athens' political machinery between the seventh and fourth centuries BC. It describes the political system of ancient Athens and the city's institutions, including the terms of access to citizenship, magistrates, and the courts. The writer recounts the major reforms of Solon, the rule of the tyrant Pisistratus and his sons, the emergence of democracy, and the leadership of Pericles and the demagogues who followed him.
According to ancient sources, Aristotle compiled constitutions of 158 Greek states, of which the Constitution of the Athenians is the only one to survive intact. However, modern scholars dispute how much of the authorship of these constitutions can be attributed to Aristotle personally. It is believed that he was at least assisted by his students, and some even suggest that the Constitution of the Athenians may have been written by one of them.
One argument in favour of Aristotle's authorship is that Athens was a particularly important state where Aristotle himself lived at the time. Therefore, it is plausible that, even if students composed the other constitutions, Aristotle composed the Constitution of Athens himself as a model for the rest. Additionally, Aristotle himself provided evidence for the existence of the Constitutions, stating at the end of his Nicomachean Ethics that his Politics would be based in part on the "collected constitutions".
Based on internal evidence, scholars have determined that the Athenian Constitution was written no earlier than 328 BC and no later than 322 BC. This dating is supported by references in the text to Athens sending officials to Samos, which occurred before 322 BC when Samos was no longer under Athenian control.
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It was written between 328 and 322 BC
Aristotle's "Constitution of the Athenians" was written between 328 and 322 BC. This date range is based on internal evidence from the text. In Chapter 62, Aristotle mentions that Athens was sending officials to Samos, which historical records show occurred before 322 BC when Samos fell out of Athenian control. This provides a crucial timeframe for when Aristotle was writing the "Constitution of the Athenians."
The "Constitution of the Athenians" is a significant work attributed to Aristotle, although some scholars debate its authorship due to stylistic differences from his other works. It is the only surviving constitution out of the 158 Greek state constitutions that Aristotle compiled, according to ancient sources. This particular constitution is unique because it describes the political system of Athens, a prominent city-state, and it was likely written by Aristotle himself as a model for the rest.
The discovery of the "Constitution of the Athenians" papyrus in the 19th century was a remarkable event. E. A. Wallis Budge of the British Museum acquired the papyrus rolls in 1889 and 1890, and Frederic Kenyon, a young assistant at the museum, identified the text as the long-lost "Constitution of the Athenians." Kenyon's first edition, along with an English translation, was published in 1891.
The content of the "Constitution of the Athenians" provides invaluable insights into Athens' political machinery and democratic ideals. It recounts major reforms, the rule of tyrants, the emergence of democracy, and the leadership that followed. Serving as a primary source for Classical Athens, it offers a detailed analysis of the city's administration, including its council, officials, and judicial system.
In summary, Aristotle's "Constitution of the Athenians," written between 328 and 322 BC, is a significant historical text that sheds light on the political landscape of Athens during that period. The discovery and publication of the papyrus in the late 19th century allowed modern scholars to access and study this important work, contributing to our understanding of ancient Greek democracy and Aristotle's philosophical legacy.
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It describes the political system of ancient Athens
The Athenian Constitution, written by Aristotle, describes the political system of ancient Athens. It is believed to have been written between 328 BC and 322 BC, during the time Aristotle was living in Athens. The work is considered significant as it is the only one of Aristotle's extant writings intended for publication, and it provides valuable insights into the political machinery of Athens between the seventh and fourth centuries BC.
The Athenian Constitution is divided into two parts. The first part, from Chapter 1 to Chapter 41, traces the evolution of the Athenian constitution, starting with the trial of the Alcmaeonidae and ending with the restoration of democracy in 403 BC. This section also covers the migration of Ion to Athens, the creation of phylai, trittyes, and phratries, the kingship of Pandion, the democratic reforms of Theseus, and the change from monarchy to a system with elected archons. Unfortunately, the beginning of this part was not preserved in the surviving papyrus.
The second part of The Athenian Constitution focuses on the city's institutions, including citizenship, magistrates, and the judicial system. Aristotle provides insights into the Festival of Hephaestus, which was instituted during the archonship of Cephisophon in 329 BC. This section also mentions the laws regarding tyrants in Athens, which were relatively mild. It describes the rise of Pisistratus, who established himself as a tyrant and ruled for nineteen years before spending the rest of his life in exile.
The Athenian Constitution also highlights the social and economic inequalities in Athens, where the poorer classes were serfs to the rich. It mentions the emergence of democracy, where power was shared by all free male citizens, and the leadership of Pericles and subsequent demagogues. Aristotle's work provides a detailed analysis of Athens' political system, making it an invaluable source of knowledge for understanding the Athenian city-state.
While the work is attributed to Aristotle, some scholars debate its authorship due to stylistic differences from his other works. However, it remains a significant primary source for understanding Classical Athens and its political system.
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It is one of 158 constitutions compiled by Aristotle and his students
The Athenian Constitution is a treatise on the political system of ancient Athens. It is one of 158 constitutions compiled by Aristotle and his students, which were commentaries on the constitutions of 158 Greek city-states. The Athenian Constitution is the only one of these 158 constitutions to survive intact.
The work was likely written between 328 BC and 322 BC, as Aristotle indicates in Chapter 62 that Athens was still sending officials to Samos, which was no longer under Athenian control after 322 BC. The treatise is divided into two parts, with the first part dealing with the different forms of the constitution from the trial of the Alcmaeonidae to the restoration of democracy in 403 BC. This part is largely lost, with only a handful of citations surviving in ancient sources and the epitome of Heraclides Lembus. The second part describes the city's institutions, including citizenship, magistrates, and the courts.
The Athenian Constitution is a significant work, providing valuable insights into the political machinery and democratic system of ancient Athens. It is also one of the only writings of Aristotle intended for publication, and it contains contemporary information not found in any other extant ancient text. The discovery of the treatise has been described as "a new epoch in Greek historical study".
While the work is generally attributed to Aristotle, some scholars dispute how much of the authorship can be credited to him personally, suggesting that he may have been assisted by his students. The style of the work is notably different from Aristotle's other writings, and it is possible that even if his students composed the other constitutions, Aristotle wrote The Athenian Constitution himself as a model for the rest.
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It is an invaluable source of knowledge about Athens and its political history
The Athenian Constitution, written by Aristotle, is an invaluable source of knowledge about Athens and its political history. It is a treatise on the Athenian constitution, detailing the political system of ancient Athens and its development, as well as how democracy worked in the city-state. The work is believed to have been written between 328 BC and 322 BC, with internal evidence suggesting that Athens was still sending officials to Samos at the time of writing, which ended in 322 BC.
The Athenian Constitution is unique among Aristotle's works as the only one of his extant writings intended for publication. It is part of a larger collection of constitutions of 158 Greek city-states compiled by Aristotle and his students. Of these, the Constitution of the Athenians is the only one to survive intact. The work is significant as it contains factual information not found in any other ancient text, including details of the major reforms of Solon, the rule of the tyrant Pisistratus and his sons, and the emergence of democracy in Athens.
The first part of the Athenian Constitution deals with the different forms of the constitution, from the trial of the Alcmaeonidae to the restoration of democracy in 403 BC. It also covers the migration of Ion to Athens, the creation of phylai, trittyes, and phratries, the kingship of Pandion, the democratic reform of Theseus, and the change from monarchy to a system with elected archons. The second part describes the city's institutions, including citizenship, magistrates, and the courts. Aristotle also examines the city's administration, including the council, officials, and the judicial system.
The discovery of the Athenian Constitution at the end of the 19th century was of great importance to philosophers, historians, and scholars. The work provides a wealth of information on the political history of Athens and is considered a significant primary source for Classical Athens and a treasured piece of cultural history. While the attribution of the work to Aristotle has been debated due to stylistic differences, it remains a valuable contribution to our understanding of ancient Athens and its political system.
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Frequently asked questions
The Athenian Constitution was written between 328 and 322 BC.
The Athenian Constitution is attributed to Aristotle, but some scholars doubt that he wrote it. It may have been written by one of his students.
The Athenian Constitution is a treatise on the government of Athens. It is a history and analysis of Athens' political machinery between the seventh and fourth centuries BC.
The Athenian Constitution is a significant primary source for Classical Athens and a treasured piece of cultural history. It is one of the most important texts from antiquity, providing invaluable knowledge about the Athenian city-state.
