H407/12 - The Politics and Culture of Athens (H407)
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The political structure of 5th century BCE Athens.
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H407/12 - The Politics and Culture of Athens (H407)
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Posters detailing the changes to the political structure in Athens in the 5th century BCE, including the political bodies, like the assembly and the jury courts, as well as the re-organisation of the tribes in Athenian-owned Attica.
H407/12 - The Politics and Culture of Athens (H407)
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The Council of 500 (Boule) The Magistrates (Archons) The Treasu
The Athenian Constitution 43-46 covers information regarding the Boule. The The Athenian Constitution 55-59 discusses the roles and duties of the Ten of these offi
members of the council were chosen by lot and only held the seat for a year. It was Archons. By the 5th Century BC, the functions of the nine Archons were were responsib
forbidden to hold a seat for more than a year or more than twice in one’s lifetime. mainly religious and legal. The Archon, Polemarch, Basileus and six only from the w
Solon created a Council of 400 but Cleisthenes later made it a Council of 500, made up Thesmothetai headed legal cases concerning what we would now call family wealthiest class
of 50 men from each of the ten new tribes he had created to ensure an accurate cross law and those cases that tried serious crimes against the state. likely to abuse
representation of the whole of Attica and across all social classes. The councilmen would be repla
The Archon was the senior civic magistrate. The Polemarch was the
would have, most likely, acted on behalf of their fellow tribesmen, and so the council Athenian Consti
commander of the army at war. The Basileus was the traditional ruler, and
would be representative.
was responsible for much the religious ceremony of the state. The six
The council took on some of the role that used to be played by the non-democratic Thesmothetai oversaw disputes and the law courts.
Areopagus as well as having the task of supervising the ever-more complex citizen The Seller
bodies and groups. The Assembly had the power to accept, reject or change any
10 of these offi
agenda proposals made by the Boule. The Boule would put forward their political
were responsib
views and it was the Assembly’s job to decide on a course of action and then enact it.
contracts. They
By the mid-5th Century BC, the Boule had so much business to handle that a further Athenian Government the wealthiest
reform was made to help it to cope with the extra demands on its time. A council sub-
committee, called the Prytany, was created and made up of one tribe’s group of 50
men. in the The Receiv
The Prytany would meet everyday, but each tribe only served for about 35 days so Ten of these offi
each tribe would have a turn. The Prytany would convene the meetings of the Boule
and Ekklesia, as well as meeting delegates from other cities. It was usually the first
5th Century BC. were responsib
sale of contract
point of contact for foreign embassies with the Athenian government body. Out of the in the Athenian
50 members on the Prytany, one man would be chosen by lot each day to be the chair
of any Boule or Ekklesia meetings. It was forbidden to be chair more than once in a
The Assembly (Ekklesia)
lifetime, so many ordinary citizens had the chance to effectively be the head-of-state The Audit
for a day. The Assembly was made up of adult male citizens and was the highest
Ten of these offi
It was likely that these Councilmen would have been paid for their service to the polis, decision-making body in the polis. It was at the centre of public life and
Auditors were o
though probably not until the late 5th Century BC. They would have sworn an oath totally dependent on the direct participation of the Athenian citizens. It met
make sure the c
before taking on their duties that seems to have included the promise to act in on the Pynx and all Athenian citizens were welcome, though its size makes it
covered in the
accordance with the laws and to be fair and responsible in decision making, though unlikely that everyone would have fit. Regardless of social status, it is likely
classes.
the exact text is unknown. that all Athenian citizens were allowed to attend meetings. Its social mix has
been described as including those in the less prestigious and lower-paid
though essential trade, such as farming and blacksmithing. The time of its
The Generals (Strategoi) highest influence was between Ephialtes’ reforms and the suspension of The Exam
democracy in 404BC by the Spartans after the Peloponnesian War. Ten of these offi
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