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sions。 Thrice was he taken prisoner； on two occasions he burst his bonds； but on the third he was carried to Sparta； and thrown with his fifty companions into a deep pit； called Ceadas。 His comrades were all killed by the fall； but Aristomenes reached the bottom unhurt。 He saw； however； no means of escape； and had resigned himself to death； but on the third day perceiving a fox creeping among the bodies； he grasped its tail； and； following the animal as it struggled to escape； discovered an opening in the rock； and on the next day was at Ira to the surprise alike of friends and foes。 But his single prowess was not sufficient to avert the ruin of his country。 One night the Spartans surprised Ira； while Aristomenes was disabled by a wound； but he collected the bravest of his followers； and forced his way through the enemy。 Many of the Messenians went to Rhegium； in Italy； under the sons of Aristomenes； but the hero himself finished his days in Rhodes。
The second Messenian war was terminated by the complete subjugation of the Messenians； who again became the serfs of their conquerors。 In this condition they remained till the restoration of their independence by Epaminondas in the year 369 B。C。 During the whole of the intervening period the Messenians disappear from history。 The country called Messenia in the map became a portion of Laconia； which thus extended across the south of Pelponnesus from the eastern to the western sea。
CHAPTER V。
THE EARLY HISTORY OF ATHENS； DOWN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DEMOCRACY BY CLISTHENES； B。C。 510。
Sparta was the only state in Greece which continued to retain the kingly form of government during the brilliant period of Grecian history。 In all other parts of Greece royalty had been abolished at as early age； and various forms of republican government established in its stead。 The abolition of royalty was first followed by an Oligarchy or the government of the Few。 Democracy； or the government of the Many； was of later growth。 It was not from the people that the oligarchies received their first and greatest blow。 They were generally overthrown by the usurpers； to whom the Greeks gave the name of TYRANTS。 ＇The Greek word Tyrant does not correspond in meaning to the same word in the English language。 It signifies simply an irresponsible ruler； and may； therefore； be more correctly rendered by the term Despot。＇
The rise of the Tyrants seems to have taken place about the same time in a large number of the Greek cities。 In most cases they belonged to the nobles； and they generally became masters of the state by espousing the cause of the commonalty； and using the strength of the people to put down the oligarchy by force。 At first they were popular with the general body of the citizens； who were glad to see the humiliation of their former masters。 But discontent soon began to arise； the tyrant had recourse to violence to quell disaffection； and the government became in reality a tyranny in the modern sense of the word。
Many of the tyrants in Greece were put down by the Lacedaemonians。 The Spartan government was essentially an oligarchy； and the Spartans were always ready to lend their powerful aid in favour of the government of the Few。 Hence they took an active part in the overthrow of the despots； with the intention of establishing the ancient oligarchy in their place。 But this rarely happened； and they found it impossible in most cases to reinstate the former body of nobles in their ancient privileges。 The latter； it is true； attempted to regain them and were supported in their attempts by Sparta。 Hence arose a new struggle。 The first contest after the abolition of royalty was between oligarchy and the despot； the next was between oligarchy and democracy。
The history of Athens affords the most striking illustration of the different revolutions of which we have been speaking。
Little is known of Athens before the age of Solon。 Its legendary tales are few； its historical facts still fewer。 Cecrops； the first ruler of Attica； is said to have divided the country into twelve districts； which are represented as independent communities； each governed by a separate king。 They were afterwards united into a single state； having Athens as its capital and the seat of government。 At what time this important union was effected cannot be determined； but it is ascribed to Theseus； as the national hero of the Athenian people。
A few generations after Theseus； the Dorians are said to have invaded Attica。 An oracle declared that they would be victorious if they spared the life of the Athenian King； whereupon Codrus； who then reigned at Athens； resolved to sacrifice himself for the welfare of his country。 Accordingly he went into the invaders' camp in disguise； provoked a quarrel with one of the Dorian soldiers and was killed by the latter。 Upon learning the death of the Athenian king； the Dorians retired from Attica without striking a blow： and the Athenians； from respect to the memory of Codrus； abolished the title of king； and substituted for it that of Archon or Ruler。 The office； however； was held for life； and was confined to the family of Codrus。 His son Medon was the first archon； and he was followed in the dignity by eleven members of the family in succession。 But soon after the accession Alcmaeon； the thirteenth in descent from Medon； another change was introduced； and the duration of the archonship was limited to ten years （B。C。 752）。 The dignity was still confined to the descendants of Medon； but in the time of Hippomenes （B。C。 714） this restriction was removed； and the office was thrown open to all the nobles in the state。 In B。C。 683 a still more important change took place。 The archonship was now made annual； and its duties were distributed among nine persons； all of whom bore the title。 The last of the decennial archons was Eryxias； the first of the nine annual archons Creon。
Such is the legendary account of the change of government at Athens； from royalty to an oligarchy。 It appears to have taken place peaceably and gradually； as in most other Greek states。 The whole political power was vested in the nobles； from them the nine annual archons were taken； and to them alone these magistrates were responsible。 The people； or general body of freemen； had no share in the government。
The Athenian nobles were called EUPATRIDAE； the two other classes in the state being the GEOMORI or husbandmen； and DEMIURGI or artisans。 This arrangement is ascribed to Theseus； but there was another division of the people of still greater antiquity。 As the Dorians were divided into three tribes； so the Ionians were usually distributed into four tribes。 The latter division also existed among the Athenians； who were Ionians； and it continued in full vigour down to the great revolution of Clisthenes （B。C。 509）。 These tribes were distinguished by the names of GELEONTES （or TELEONTES） 〃cultivators；〃 HOPLETES 〃warriors；〃 AEGICORES 〃goat…herds；〃 and ARGADES 〃artisans。〃 Each tribe contained three Phratriae； each Phratry thirty Gentes； and each Gens thirty heads of families。
The first date in Athenian history on which certain reliance can be placed is the institution of annual archons； in the year 683 B。C。 The duties of the government were distributed among the nine archons in the following manner。 The first was called THE ARCHON by way of pre…eminence； and sometimes the Archon Eponymus； because the year was distinguished by his name。 The second archon was called THE BASILEUS or THE KING； because he represented the king in his capacity as high…priest of the nation。 The third archon bore the title of THE POLEMARCH； or Commander…in…chief and was； down to the time of Clisthenes； the commander of the troops。 The remaining six had the common title of THESMOTHETAE； or Legislators。 Their duties seem to have been almost exclusively judicial。
The government of the Eupatrids was oppressive； and the discontent of the people at length became so serious； that Draco was appointed in 624 B。C。 to draw up a written code of laws。 They were marked by extreme severity。 He affixed the penalty of death to all crimes alike； to petty thefts； for instance； as well as to sacrilege and m