Solonian Constitution
Encyclopedia
The Solonian Constitution was created by Solon
in the early 6th century BC.
Solon wanted to revise or abolish the older laws of Draco. Under Solon's reforms, all debts were abolished and all debt-slaves were freed. The status of the hectemoroi (the "one-sixth workers"), who farmed in an early form of serf
dom, was also abolished. These reforms were known as the Seisachtheia
, the "shaking-off of burdens."
Solon's constitution reduced the power of the old aristocracy by making wealth rather than birth a criterion for holding political positions, a system called timokratia or Timocracy
. Citizens were also divided based on their land production: Pentacosiomedimnoi (over 500 bushels of produce), Hippeis
(300-500 bushels), Zeugitae
(200-300 bushels), and thetes (below 200 bushels, as well as citizens with no wealth tied to the land). Each division had different rights; for example, the pentacosiomedimnoi could be archon
s, while thetes could only attend the Athenian assembly (the Heliaia
).
The Heliaia was given the right to hear appeals, and Solon also created the Boule
as a higher assembly. Both of these were meant to decrease the power of the Areopagus
, the aristocratic council.
The only parts of Draco's code that Solon kept were the laws regarding homicide
. The constitution was written as poetry
, and as soon as it was introduced, Solon went into self-imposed exile
for 10 years so he would not be tempted to take power as a tyrant
.
Solon
Solon was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in archaic Athens...
in the early 6th century BC.
Solon wanted to revise or abolish the older laws of Draco. Under Solon's reforms, all debts were abolished and all debt-slaves were freed. The status of the hectemoroi (the "one-sixth workers"), who farmed in an early form of serf
SERF
A spin exchange relaxation-free magnetometer is a type of magnetometer developed at Princeton University in the early 2000s. SERF magnetometers measure magnetic fields by using lasers to detect the interaction between alkali metal atoms in a vapor and the magnetic field.The name for the technique...
dom, was also abolished. These reforms were known as the Seisachtheia
Seisachtheia
Seisachtheia was a set of laws instituted by the Athenian lawmaker Solon in order to rectify the widespread serfdom and slaves that had run rampant in Athens by the 6th century BC, by debit relief...
, the "shaking-off of burdens."
Solon's constitution reduced the power of the old aristocracy by making wealth rather than birth a criterion for holding political positions, a system called timokratia or Timocracy
Timocracy
Constitutional theory defines a timocracy as either:# a state where only property owners may participate in government# a government in which love of honor is the ruling principle...
. Citizens were also divided based on their land production: Pentacosiomedimnoi (over 500 bushels of produce), Hippeis
Hippeis
Hippeis was the Greek term for cavalry. The Hippeus was the second highest of the four Athenian social classes, made of men who could afford to maintain a war horse in the service of the state. The rank may be compared to Roman Equestrians and medieval knights. Among the Athenians, it referred to...
(300-500 bushels), Zeugitae
Zeugitae
Zeugitae were members of the third census division created by Solon's constitutional reforms in ancient Athens. The Zeugitae were those whose property or estate could produce 200 bushels of wet or dry goods , per year...
(200-300 bushels), and thetes (below 200 bushels, as well as citizens with no wealth tied to the land). Each division had different rights; for example, the pentacosiomedimnoi could be archon
Archon
Archon is a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem ἀρχ-, meaning "to rule", derived from the same root as monarch, hierarchy, and anarchy.- Ancient Greece :In ancient Greece the...
s, while thetes could only attend the Athenian assembly (the Heliaia
Heliaia
Heliaia or Heliaea was the supreme court of ancient Athens. Τhe view generally held among scholars is that the court drew its name from the ancient Greek verb , which means , namely congregate. Another version is that the court took its name from the fact that the hearings were taking place...
).
The Heliaia was given the right to hear appeals, and Solon also created the Boule
Boule (Ancient Greece)
In cities of ancient Greece, the boule meaning to will ) was a council of citizens appointed to run daily affairs of the city...
as a higher assembly. Both of these were meant to decrease the power of the Areopagus
Areopagus
The Areopagus or Areios Pagos is the "Rock of Ares", north-west of the Acropolis, which in classical times functioned as the high Court of Appeal for criminal and civil cases in Athens. Ares was supposed to have been tried here by the gods for the murder of Poseidon's son Alirrothios .The origin...
, the aristocratic council.
The only parts of Draco's code that Solon kept were the laws regarding homicide
Homicide
Homicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
. The constitution was written as poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, and as soon as it was introduced, Solon went into self-imposed exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
for 10 years so he would not be tempted to take power as a tyrant
Tyrant
A tyrant was originally one who illegally seized and controlled a governmental power in a polis. Tyrants were a group of individuals who took over many Greek poleis during the uprising of the middle classes in the sixth and seventh centuries BC, ousting the aristocratic governments.Plato and...
.
External links
- The Athenian Constitution, Aristotle (~350 BC). Commentary on the Solonian Constitution.
- The Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans, Plutarch (~75 AD). Article on Solon.
- The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State, Frederick Engels. Chapter V. The Rise of the Athenian State, discusses the significance and effects of Solonian Constitution.