VIDEO LINK:  youtube.com/watch?v=q2kWADIDyqI

 

 

 

THE LEGISLATION OF ANCIENT GREECE

 

WRITTEN BY:  Georgia Moldovani

TRRANSLATED BY:  Ioanna Sivridou

 

The ancient Greeks legally organized the first city-states.  The virtue of justice was considered to be of great significance as it is the foundation for organizing society’s institutions. Between 1100-750 B.C laws were unwritten. It was generally believed that laws were sent by the Gods and they were respected as they were considered to be under the protection of the Gods. However, as the aristocracy used these laws in a way that would benefit them , ordinary citizens demanded that the law was written.

There were provisions related to the way ordinary citizens should live their lives. Such provisions included how ordinary citizens should dress and how contracts should be made.  A well known legislator was Zalefkos who became well known through his laws an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  Another well-known legislator was Charon. His laws referred to false witness testimony, arson and the purchasing and selling of property and military service.

In Sparta, Lykourgos established the cessation of animosities between city-states during the Olympic Games through his legislatory laws. 

 In 624 B.C Athenians  made ‘Drakon’ responsible to write down the laws and in 621 B.C he presented the laws written in marble plates. These marble plates were placed in the agora (market). These laws were very strict and allowed for harsh punishment even when the committed crimes were insignificant. The expression Draconian measures came from here.

Solon was the legislator who followed Drakon (625-552 B.C). His reforms were important as they helped establish more democracy.

Solon was one of the seven wise men of ancient Greece.  He became a leader in Athens in 594 B.C .

He was rich, wise, polite, noble and was also  a poet and a tradesman.  Solon was an important progressive politician of Ancient Greece.  He earned people’s trust and respect through his poetic works. 

 Through his poetry he encouraged and excited the people.  His legislation allowed any citizen to denounce any leader/nobleman to the supreme court. The citizen would be the prosecutor.

Solon created the  Iliea, a civil court with many members.  This court would ensure that justice will prevail.  He forbid the export of all products other than olive oil.  He took measures in order to protect families and marriage.

He also took measures against rape, prostitution and adultery.  However, the most important of the measures he took was a measure that related to citizen equality.  This was the sisahthia.  He forbid poor citizens from borrowing as they risked becoming slaves if they failed to pay back. 

This measure is called sisahthia . It is a composite word. It comes from siw=get rid of and ahthos=weight.  Thererfore, sisahthia means getting rid of the burden on top of me. He rearranged land and gave some of it to the poor.  He changed civil, private and penal law.

These laws were written on wooden square flat stones which were turning around a pivot placed in the agora/market.  His legislation assisted social, financial and political progress of Athens. He is rightly considered to be the father of civil law. 

He himself said that you can only govern if you learn to govern yourself.