按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e penalty of death to all crimes alike； to petty thefts； for instance； as well as to sacrilege and murder。 Hence they were said to have been written not in ink but in blood； and we are told that he justified this extreme harshness by saying that small offences deserved death； and that he knew no severer punishment for great ones。
The legislation of Draco failed to calm the prevailing discontent。 The people gained nothing by the written code； except a more perfect knowledge of its severity； and civil dissensions prevailed as extensively as before。 The general dissatisfaction with the government was favourable to revolutionary projects； and accordingly； twelve years after Draco's legislation （B。C。 612）； Cylon； one of the nobles； conceived the design of depriving his brother Eupatrids of their power； and making himself tyrant of Athens。 Having collected a considerable force； he seized the Acropolis； but he did not meet with support from the great mass of the people； and he soon found himself closely blockaded by the forces of the Eupatrids。 Cylon and his brother made their escape； but the remainder of his associates； hard pressed by hunger； abandoned the defence of the walls； and took refuge at the altar of Athena （Minerva）。 They were induced by the archon Megacles； one of the illustrious family of the Alcmaeonidae； to quit the altar on the promise that their lives should be spared； but directly they had left the temple they were put to death； and some of them were murdered even at the altar of the Eumenides or Furies。
The conspiracy thus failed； but its suppression was attended with a long train of melancholy consequences。 The whole family of the Alcmaeonidae was believed to have become tainted by the daring act of sacrilege committed by Megacles； and the friends and partisans of the murdered conspirators were not slow in demanding vengeance upon the accursed race。 Thus a new element of discord was introduced into the state； In the midst of these dissensions there was one man who enjoyed a distinguished reputation at Athens； and to whom his fellow citizens looked up as the only person in the state who could deliver them from their political and social dissensions； and secure them from such misfortunes for the future。 This man was Solon； the son of Execestides； and a descendant of Codrus。 He had travelled through many parts of Greece and Asia； and had formed acquaintance with many of the most eminent men of his time。 On his return to his native country he distinguished himself by recovering the island of Salamis； which had revolted to Megara （B。C。 600）。 Three years afterwards he persuaded the Alcmaeonidae to submit their case to the judgment of three hundred Eupatridae； by whom they were adjudged guilty of sacrilege； and were expelled from Attica。 The banishment of the guilty race did not； however； deliver the Athenians from their religious fears。 A pestilential disease with which they were visited was regarded as an unerring sign of the divine wrath。 Upon the advice of the Delphic oracle； they invited the celebrated Cretan prophet and sage； Epimenides； to visit Athens； and purify their city from pollution and sacrilege。 By performing certain sacrifices and expiatory acts； Epimenides succeeded in staying the plague。
The civil dissensions however still continued。 The population of Attica was now divided into three hostile factions； consisting of the PEDIEIS or wealthy Eupatrid inhabitants of the plains； of the DIACRII； or poor inhabitants of the hilly districts in the north and east of Attica； and of the PARALI； or mercantile inhabitants of the coasts； who held an intermediate position between the other two。 Their disputes were aggravated by the miserable condition of the poorer population。 The latter were in a state of abject poverty； They had borrowed money from the wealthy at exorbitant rates of interest upon the security of their property and their persons。 If the principal and interest of the debt were not paid； the creditor had the power of seizing the person as well as the land of his debtor； and of using him as a slave。 Many had thus been torn from their homes and sold to barbarian masters； while others were cultivating as slaves the lands of their wealthy creditors in Attica。 Matters had at length reached a crisis； the existing laws could no longer be enforced； and the poor were ready to rise in open insurrection against the rich。
In these alarming circumstances the ruling oligarchy were obliged to have recourse to Solon； and they therefore chose him Archon in B。C。 594； investing him under that title with unlimited powers to effect any changes he might consider beneficial to the state。 His appointment was hailed with satisfaction by the poor； and all parties were willing to accept his mediation and reforms。
Solon commenced his undertaking by relieving the poorer class of debtors from their existing distress。 He cancelled all contracts by which the land or person of a debtor had been given as security； and he forbad for the future all loans in which the person of the debtor was pledged。 He next proceeded to draw up a new constitution and a new code of laws。 As a preliminary step he repealed all the laws of Draco； except those relating to murder。 He then made a new classification of the citizens； distributing them into four classes according to the amount of their property； thus making wealth and not birth the title to the honours and offices of the state。 The first class consisted of those whose annual income was equal to 500 medimni of corn and upwards； and were called PENTACOSIOMEDIMNI。 ＇The medimnus was one bushel and a half。＇ The second class consisted of those whose incomes ranged between 300 and 500 medimni and were called KNIGHTS； from their being able to furnish a war…horse。 The third class consisted of those who received between 200 and 300 medimni； and were called ZEUGITAE from their being able to keep a yoke of oxen for the plough。 The fourth class； called THETES； included all whose property fell short of 200 medimni。 The first class were alone eligible to the archonship and the higher offices of the state。 The second and third classes filled inferior posts； and were liable to military service； the former as horsemen； and the latter as heavy…armed soldiers on foot。 The fourth class were excluded from all public offices； and served in the army only as light…armed troops。 Solon； however； allowed them to veto in the public assembly； where they must have constituted by far the largest number。 He gave the assembly the right of electing the archons and the other officers of the state； and he also made the archons accountable to the assembly at the expiration of their year of office。
This extension of the duties of the public assembly led to the institution of a new body。 Solon created the Senate； or Council of Four Hundred with the special object of preparing all matters for the discussion of the public assembly； of presiding at its meetings； and of carrying its resolutions into effect。 No subject could be introduced before the people； except by a previous resolution of the Senate。 The members of the Senate were elected by the public assembly； one hundred from each of the four ancient tribes； which were left untouched by Solon。 They held their office for a year； and were accountable at its expiration to the public assembly for the manner in which they had discharged their duties。
The Senate of the Areopagus ＇It received its name from its place of meeting； which was a rocky eminence opposite the Acropolis； called the hill of Ares （Mars Hill）＇； is said by some writers to have been instituted by Solon； but it existed long before his time； and may be regarded as the representative of the Council of Chiefs in the Heroic age。 Solon enlarged its powers； and intrusted it with the general supervision of the institutions and laws of the state； and imposed upon it the duty of inspecting the lives and occupations of the citizens。 All archons became members of it at the expiration of their year of office。
Solon laid only the foundation of the Athenian democracy by giving the poorer classes a vote in the popular assembly； and by enlarging the power of the latter； but he left