Athenian Democracy 6Th And 5Th Centuries

Front 1

Agora

Back 1

Area north of the Acropolis which served as the administrative centre of the city and a market place.

Front 2

Archon

Back 2

One of nine prestigious public officials, comprising the Archon Basileus, the Archon, the Polemarchos and the Thesmothetae.

Front 3

Archon Basileus

Back 3

King Archon, one of nine Archon’s with primarily religious duties.

Front 4

Areopagus

Back 4

A Council named after the Hill, ‘The Hill of Ares’, its power was greatly diminished by Ephialtes

Front 5

Boule

Back 5

The Board of 500 which acted as a steering group for the Ekklesia (Assembly). The principal executive body.

Front 6

demagogue

Back 6

Someone who is politically active in the Assembly and seeks to acquire power by appealing to the demos.

Front 7

demarch

Back 7

The chief official of a deme

Front 8

deme

Back 8

Local units (urban sections or villages) which were the smallest divisions of Athenian democracy.

Front 9

dokimasia

Back 9

A formal assessment of eligibility for i. rights and citizenship; ii. Office or activity; iii. benefits

Front 10

eisangelia

Back 10

A charge for political offences laid before the council or the Assembly.

Front 11

Ekklesia (Assembly)

Back 11

Formal meeting of up 6000 men chosen from all male citizens over the age of 20. The policy making body of the state.

Front 12

ephebe

Back 12

An Athenian male citizenship undertaking two years of military service before he can acquire his full citizen rights.

Front 13

euthynai

Back 13

The formal examination of an official upon the termination of his office.

Front 14

graphe

Back 14

Most common public prosecution, open to anyone, unlike the private dike, where only the victim could sue.

Front 15

graphe paranomon

Back 15

Public prosecution against any proposal which contravened existing legislation.

Front 16

Liturgy (leitourgia)

Back 16

Public duties (usually expensive) allocated to wealthy individuals on the basis of their assets.

Front 17

Metic

Back 17

An alien resident in Attica, subject to a residency tax.

Front 18

Ostracism

Back 18

Assembly vote under which the individual receiving the lagest share of vies was exiled for ten ears, obsolete by the end of the fifth century.

Front 19

Polemarch

Back 19

One of nine archons with duties especially in relation to resident aliens.

Front 20

probouleuma

Back 20

Preliminary motion placed before the Assembly or Council.

Front 21

prytany

Back 21

Period of one tenth of the Athenian administrative year, designated from term of office of the prytaneis.

Front 22

prytaneis

Back 22

Standing committee of the council, comprising the full contingent for one of the ten tribes, serving in rotation.

Front 23

Rhetor

Back 23

Public speaker, term used for an active politician.

Front 24

Strategos (General)

Back 24

‘General’ one of the board of ten military officials created by Cleisthenes. In the fifth century these were the most important individuals.

Front 25

Theoric Fund (theorikon)

Back 25

The state fund initiated to provide state dole for Theatre attendance.

Front 26

Thesmothetai

Back 26

The title of six of the nine archons responsible for setting the laws.

Front 27

Trierarchia (trierarchy)

Back 27

A liturgy whereby a rich citizen became responsible for equipping and maintain a triereme.

Front 28

seisachtheia

Back 28

"The shaking of burdens." Solon's debt cancellations

Front 29

Third Party Redress

Back 29

The right, introduced by Solon, whereby any citizen could bring some to court for a crime. Before this law only the victim of a crime could make an accusation.

Front 30

hektemoroi

Back 30

6th Parters. The rural poor who worked land own by their Lord and pai them 1/6th of their produce.