Midterm 1 Flashcards
Isonomia
What the Athenian called their form of government. Literally translates to “equal law”
Polis
Greek city-state
Polites (Po-Lee-Tays)
A citizen. Literally “One who does the city”
Oligarchy
Rule by the few. Oligos meaning few and Arche meaning rule
Ekklesia
Literally translates to “calling out”. The citizens assembly where all citizens could voice their concerns and vote on matters regarding the city-state.
Tyrannos (plural is Tyrannoi)
Someone who comes to power not through legal channels. In early Athens, a tyrannos would side with the common people, giving them more power than they would typically see under an oligarchy.
Demos
The people
Who was Cleisthenes?
Cleisthenes was one of the first publicly elected officials who proposed the first isonomia constitution of Athens. AKA Athens’s first democratic constitution made in 508/507 BC
What is the Boule?
The council. They are elected by the ekklesia and manage all administrative work. They draft the laws and the ekklesia votes them in. Someone can only be on the boule twice in their entire life.
There were 500 members of the Boule. 50 from each tribe.
What is Attike?
The territory surround Athens that also belonged to Athens. Anyone who lived in Attike and was a citizen, was considered a citizen of Athens and a member of the polis.
When did citizenship laws come into place?
Citizenship laws were originally enacted in 451 BC but were reenacted in 403 BC.
Who was considered a citizen in Athens?
- A Male
- Over 18 years old
- 2 Athenian citizen parents
- A Free-person
Who was not considered Athenian citizens?
- Women
- Children
- Children of parents who were not both Athenian citizens
What year was the first Athenian constitution drafted?
508/7 BC
What is a Phyle and Deme?
A Phyle is a tribe. Attike was split into 10 of them. They were originally based on blood relation but changed to geographical location.
Demes were small villages and settlements within a tribe
What is a dokimasia?
A scrutiny. You are presented to the deme on your 18th birthday to be registered as a citizen. If they don’t believe you are 18, you are sent away and not registered.
If they believe you, your name is registered and sent to the boule which then approves it, making you an official citizen.
What is the dikasteria and dikastes?
The dikasteria is the courts and dikastes are the jurors. To be a jury member you had to be a citizen man and over 30 years. A juror only served for one year.
What is a Prytany?
The group that was in charge of the Boule for a month. Each Athenian year only had 10 months. 10 months, 10 tribes, each tribe took control of the Boule for a month.
What are Strategoi
Generals. One of the few positions in Athens elected by the people and not chosen by lot.
What is an Arkhon?
A position selected by lot. Someone in charge of specific aspects of the city. There were 9 arkhons total.
What did the Chief Arkhon do?
Oversaw matters that pertained to the household and looked after orphans, specifically epikleros (orphan girls that inherited estate)
What did the King Arkhon (Arkhon Basileus) do?
Looked over religious matters and homicide courts. In homicide preceedings, he would hold 3 pretirals (one a month) and on the 4th month would deliver his final verdict.
What did the Polemarch do?
Looked after foreigner affairs, specifically oversaw courts relating to Metics
What did the 6 thesmothetai do?
They oversaw all other aspects of the law that did not fall directly under the jurisdiction of the other 3 Arkhons.
What is Dike?
Judgement, sometimes used as justice
What is a Geron
An Elder
What is Nomos?
Law or tradition. Was used originally for tradition but as tradition slowly turned into law, the definition for nomos changed to reflect that transition.
What is the Agora
The marketplace, where the laws were kept. It was also where homicide proclamations would be made to the city.
What is an Istor?
The knower of laws. They knew, spoke, and interpreted the laws for people before they were written down for everyone. Typically kings and elders
Who is Solon?
The Athenian law-maker. He was appointed in 594 and abolished debt slavery. He also made laws that limited public displays of grief at funerals. The Athenian laws that were revised in 403/2 were essentially the laws of Solon.
Who is Drakon?
An Athenian culture hero. He is supposedly the first person to every write down the laws of Athens, even if they were awful. Also wrote the Athenians homicide laws, which are the only laws of Drakon still followed.
What is the Eliaia?
Essentially a court of appeals. It was a way for the courts to hear appeals of decisions made by magistrates.
What is the Areopagus?
The court that heard legal cases regarding murder of citizens and intentional wounding.
Historia
The Greek word for history. Also refers to becoming more knowledgeable in something.
What is an idiotes?
Someone who only looks after their private affairs and does not care at all about the going-on of the city.
What are the differences between Dike and Graphe cases?
A dike case is a private affair. It is solely a dispute between two individuals and does not affect the city.
A Graphe case is a public case and does affect the city
What is Ho Boulomenos?
Literally translates to “The one who wants to”. Essentially means that any citizen can prosecute a graphe case if they feel someone has wronged the city.
What are logographoi?
Speech writers
What is a Dokimasia Rhetoron?
It is a scrutiny of speakers. Is done when someones name is drawn to be a member of the boule. IS done to make sure the person drawn is a good Athenian citizen.
What is a Synegoros?
A supporting speaker. They are not the ones prosecuting but speak in support of the prosecutor or defense in a court hearing.
What is Peiraeius?
A port of Athens. A lot of shady business dealings happened here like prostitution
Who are Aischines and Demosthenes?
Both are wealthy speech-writers and prminent politicains who are in opposing political camps of each other. They are enemies
Who is Timarchos?
Timarchos is a prominent politician who was in the same political camp as Demosthenes. He was also the enemy of Aischines.
What is a Diapsephisis?
It is a “Voting throughout”. The demes gathered and determined whether everyone there was an actual citizen or not.
What is a demarch?
The head of a deme.
Who is a Nothos?
A bastard. a son who is a product of an illegitimate marriage. Could not inherit land and possibly had less access to citizen rights.
What is enktesis?
The right of allowing a metic to own Athenian land. Did not happen often and could only be granted by the ekklesia.
What is a Euthyna?
A “Straightening”. It was done at the end of an officials term and was essentially a review to make sure you were competent and honest in your work and didn’t cheat the city. If you failed, you would be punished severely.
What is a diadikasia case?
It is a claim of inheritance and is taken to court supervised by the arkhon
What is a dekate?
A 10-day ritual that is done at the beginning and end of your life. The entire kin group is present for this. Typically, the father would present the name of his child to the group and claim them as their legitimate child.
What is a paragraphe?
It is a counter-prosecution. It is a claim that the original prosecution against you is illegal. The paragraph case then takes priority and is dealt with prior to the original case
What is Graphe Paranomon?
A prosecution against someone who made a proposal to the ekklesia that was illegal.
What is karpos?
fruit or agricultural product. Also used to refer to money that is owed to someone.
