Ultimate Guide Athenian Society

What was the Acropolis in Athens?

A fortified hilltop containing temples, notably the Parthenon, dedicated to Athena.

What role did the Acropolis play in Athenian society?

Religious center and symbol of Athenian power and culture.

Why was the Acropolis significant during the Persian Wars?

It was destroyed by Persians in 480 BC but rebuilt as a symbol of Athenian resilience.

Who commissioned the rebuilding of the Acropolis after the Persian Wars?

Pericles.

What proportion of Athens’ population were slaves?

About one-third.

Were slaves in Athens generally prisoners of war or born into slavery?

Mostly prisoners of war, but also born into slavery.

Could slaves be freed in Athens?

Yes, sometimes slaves were manumitted and became metics or citizens.

Did slaves participate in public life or hold political rights?

No, slaves had no political rights.

What types of work did slaves perform in Athens?

Domestic service, mining, workshops, and agricultural labor.

Who were considered citizens in Athens?

Free adult males born of Athenian parents.

Could women or metics become citizens in Athens?

No.

What rights did citizens have?

Right to vote, hold office, serve on juries, own property.

What were metics?

Resident foreigners who lived and worked in Athens but had no political rights.

What was the significance of citizenship laws passed in 451/0 BC?

Tightened citizenship to include only those with two Athenian parents.

What was the main legislative body in Athens?

The Ekklesia.

Who could attend the Ekklesia?

All male citizens over 18.

What was the quorum for important decisions in the Ekklesia?

6,000 citizens.

Where did the Ekklesia meet?

On the Pnyx hill.

How often did it meet?

About 40 times a year.

How were votes usually taken?

By a show of hands or secret ballot using pebbles.

What kind of decisions did the Ekklesia make?

Laws, war declarations, policy, and ostracism votes.

What was the Boule?

A council of 500 citizens who prepared business for the Ekklesia.

How were members of the Boule chosen?

By lot from each of the ten tribes.

What was the role of the Boule?

Setting the agenda, supervising officials, financial oversight.

Who were the Archons?

Nine magistrates who held executive and religious functions.

How were Archons chosen?

Initially elected, later mostly by lot and limited to aristocrats.

Who were the Strategoi?

Ten generals elected by tribes, responsible for military command.

Why were Strategoi elected and not chosen by lot?

Because military expertise was required.

Who was Pericles?

A leading Strategos and champion of Athenian democracy.

What was the role of the dikasts?

Jurymen chosen by lot to decide legal cases.

How large were the juries?

From 201 to 1,501 members depending on the case.

How were jurors selected each day?

From a pool of 6,000 citizens over 30, chosen by a lottery machine called the kleroterion.

How was voting conducted in court?

By secret ballot with tokens.

Could prosecution and defense both speak?

Yes, equal time was allocated with water clocks.

Was there a professional prosecutor?

No, prosecutions were private.

Were witnesses cross-examined?

No.

Could character assassination be used?

Yes, attacking the defendant’s character was allowed.

What payment did jurors receive?

Initially 2 obols per day under Pericles, later increased to 3 obols.

Did payment make jury service fully representative?

No, poorer citizens were more able to attend, leading to bias.

What was ostracism?

A process to exile a citizen for 10 years without loss of property.

What was the minimum number of votes needed to ostracize someone?

6,000 votes.

Was ostracism a criminal conviction?

No, it was a political safety valve.

Name a famous ostracized figure.

Themistocles.

When were the ten new tribes introduced?

508/7 BC by Cleisthenes.

When was the board of ten generals (strategoi) established?

501/0 BC.

What powers did Ephialtes’ reforms remove from the Areopagus?

Most judicial and political powers, transferring them to the Boule, Ekklesia, and courts.

Who supported Ephialtes?

Pericles.

What new rights did citizens have after 457/6 BC?

All citizens, including thetes, could hold public office.

What was the financial basis for expanding democracy?

The Delian League treasury and payment for public duties.

How did Thucydides portray Pericles’ speech?

As a praise of Athenian democracy’s strengths.

What was the debate about the silver discovered at Laurion?

Whether to distribute money or build ships; ships were chosen.

What poor decisions did the Ekklesia make?

Executing generals after Arginusae.

How did Aristophanes depict jurors?

As meddlesome old men prone to bribery.

What role did oratory play in Athenian politics?

Central role; effective speakers could sway votes.

How were ordinary voters portrayed?

Easily led and gullible.

Who were the zeugitai and thetes in Athenian society?

Zeugitai provided heavy infantry; thetes provided rowers in the fleet.

What was the significance of thetes in Athens?

They manned the fleet and contributed to Athenian power.

What reforms did Ephialtes introduce in 462/1 BC?

Stripped the Council of the Areopagus of most powers, transferring them to the Boule, Ekklesia, and courts.

How long did Pericles hold office continuously?

Fifteen years from 443 to his death in 429 BC.

What payment was introduced under Pericles for public service?

Payment for serving on the Boule, as juror, or magistrate (not for attending the Ekklesia).

What change occurred to juror pay in the 420s BC?

Increased from 2 obols to 3 obols per day.

How did payment for public duties affect participation?

Promoted participation but skewed towards elderly or impoverished dikasts.

How did Aristophanes portray jurors in his play Wasps?

As meddlesome old men, suggesting bribery persisted.

Why was oratory important in Athens?

Effective speakers held unequal power in courts and the Ekklesia.

What was the attitude towards ordinary voters in Athenian comedy?

Portrayed as easily led and gullible.

How did payment for jury service relate to Athenian imperialism?

Linked to the Delian League treasury being moved to Athens in 454 BC.

Why was citizenship highly prized in Athens?

Because it conferred political rights and privileges.

What did citizenship laws of 451/0 BC tighten?

Restricted citizenship to those with Athenian parentage on both sides.

What is the Old Oligarch's view on power distribution in Athens?

Believed the poor and ordinary people should have more power because they manned the fleet.

Who were the two main factions in Athens after the Persian Wars?

Aristocrats wanting to keep control and radical democrats wanting mass participation.

What was the role of the Areopagus before Ephialtes' reforms?

Council composed of former archons, held judicial and political powers.

What example shows the Ekklesia making a wise decision?

Choosing Themistocles’ proposal to build 200 ships with silver from Laurion.

What is an example of a regretted decision by the Ekklesia?

Execution of six generals after the battle of Arginusae in 406 BC.