Editing Solon (section)

===Constitutional ===
[[File:Areopagus from the Acropolis.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Areopagus]], as viewed from the [[Acropolis of Athens|Acropolis]], is a monolith where Athenian aristocrats decided important matters of state during Solon's time.]]
Depending on how we interpret the historical facts known to us, Solon's constitutional reforms were either a radical anticipation of democratic government, or they merely provided a plutocratic flavour to a stubbornly aristocratic regime, or else the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes.{{efn|"In all areas then it was the work of Solon which was decisive in establishing the foundations for the development of a full democracy."{{emdash}}Marylin B. Arthur, "The Origins of the Western Attitude Toward Women", in ''Women in the Ancient World: The Arethusa Papers'', John Patrick Sullivan (ed.), State University of New York (1984), p. 30.<br>
"In making their own evaluation of Solon, the ancient sources concentrated on what were perceived to be the democratic features of the constitution. But&nbsp;... Solon was given his extraordinary commission by the nobles, who wanted him to eliminate the threat that the position of the nobles as a whole would be overthrown".{{emdash}} Stanton, G. R. ''Athenian Politics c. 800–500 BC: A Sourcebook'', Routledge, London (1990), p. 76.}}   

Before Solon's reforms, the Athenian state was administered by nine archons appointed or elected annually by the [[Areopagus]] on the basis of noble birth and wealth.<ref>[[s:Athenian Constitution#3|''Athenaion Politeia'' 3.6]]</ref><ref>''Athenaion Politeia'' [[s:Athenian Constitution#8|8.2]].</ref>{{efn|The Areopagus comprised former archons and it therefore had, in addition to the power of appointment, extraordinary influence as a consultative body. The nine archons took the oath of office while ceremonially standing on a stone in the [[agora]], declaring their readiness to dedicate a golden statue if they should ever be found to have violated the laws.<ref>''Athenaion Politeia'' [[s:Athenian Constitution#7|7.1]], 55.5.</ref><ref>Plutarch, ''Solon'' [[s:Lives (Dryden translation)/Solon#25|25.3]].</ref>}} There was an assembly of Athenian citizens (the [[Ecclesia (ancient Athens)|Ekklesia]]) but the lowest class (the [[Thetes]]) was not admitted and its deliberative procedures were controlled by the nobles.<ref>Stanton, G. R. ''Athenian Politics c. 800–500 BC: A Sourcebook'', Routledge, London (1991), p. 35, n. 2.</ref> There therefore seemed to be no means by which an archon could be called to account for breach of oath unless the Areopagus favoured his prosecution. 

According to the ''[[Constitution of the Athenians (Aristotle)|Athenian Constitution]]'', Solon legislated for all citizens to be admitted into the Ekklesia<ref name="ReferenceB">''Athenaion Politeia'' [[s:Athenian Constitution#7|7.3]].</ref> and for a court (the [[Heliaia]]) to be formed from all the citizens.<ref>Aristotle, ''Politics'' 1274a 3, 1274a 15.</ref> The Heliaia appears to have been the Ekklesia, or some representative portion of it, sitting as a jury.<ref>Ostwald M. ''From Popular Sovereignty to the Sovereignty of the Law: Law, Society and Politics in Fifth Century Athens'', Berkeley (1986), pp. 9–12, 35.</ref><ref>Stanton, G. R. ''Athenian Politics c. 800–500 BC: A Sourcebook'', Routledge, London (1990), p. 67, n. 2.</ref> By giving common people the power not only to elect officials but also to call them to account, Solon appears to have established the foundations of a true republic.{{efn|Some scholars have doubted whether Solon actually included the Thetes in the Ekklesia, this being considered too bold a move for any aristocrat in the archaic period.<ref>Hignett C. ''A History of the Athenian Constitution to the End of the Fifth Century B.C.'', Oxford University Press (1952), p. 117 f.</ref> Ancient sources<ref>''Athenaion Politeia'' [[s:Athenian Constitution#8|8.4]].</ref><ref>Plutarch, ''Solon'' [[s:Lives (Dryden translation)/Solon#19|19]].</ref> credit Solon with the creation of a [[Boule (ancient Greece)|Council of Four Hundred]], drawn from the four Athenian tribes to serve as a steering committee for the enlarged Ekklesia. However, many modern scholars have doubted this also.<ref>Hignett C. ''A History of the Athenian Constitution to the End of the Fifth Century B.C. (Oxford University Press 1952) 92–96</ref><ref>Stanton, G. R. ''Athenian Politics c. 800–500 BC: A Sourcebook'', Routledge, London (1990), p. 72 n. 14.</ref>}}

====Classes====
There is consensus among scholars that Solon lowered the requirements – those that existed in terms of financial and social qualifications – which applied to election to public office. The Solonian constitution divided citizens into four political classes defined according to assessable property<ref name="ReferenceB"/><ref name="ReferenceC">Plutarch, ''Solon'' [[s:Lives (Dryden translation)/Solon#18|18]].</ref> a classification that might previously have served the state for military or taxation purposes only.<ref>Stanton, G. R. ''Athenian Politics c. 800–500 BC: A Sourcebook'', Routledge, London (1990), p. 71, n. 6.</ref> The standard unit for this assessment was one ''[[medimnos]]'' (approximately 12 gallons) of cereals and yet the kind of classification set out below might be considered too simplistic to be historically accurate.<ref>V. Ehrenberg, ''From Solon to Socrates: Greek History and Civilization'', Routledge, London (1973).</ref>

*'''{{lang|grc-Latn|[[Pentakosiomedimnoi]]}}'''
**valued at 500 {{lang|grc-Latn|medimnoi}} or more of cereals annually.
**eligible to serve as {{lang|grc-Latn|[[strategoi]]}} (generals or military governors)
*'''{{lang|grc-Latn|[[Hippeis]]}}'''
**valued at 300 {{lang|grc-Latn|medimnoi}} or more annually.
**approximating to the [[medieval]] class of [[knights]], they had enough wealth to equip themselves for the [[Greek cavalry|cavalry]]
*'''{{lang|grc-Latn|[[Zeugitai]]}}'''
**valued at 200 {{lang|grc-Latn|medimnoi}} or more annually.
**approximating to the medieval class of [[yeoman]], they had enough wealth to equip themselves for the infantry ([[hoplite]])
*'''{{lang|grc-Latn|[[Thetes]]}}'''
**valued up to 199 {{lang|grc-Latn|medimnoi}} annually or less
**manual workers or sharecroppers, they served voluntarily in the role of personal servant, or as auxiliaries armed for instance with the [[sling (weapon)|sling]] or as rowers in the navy.

According to the ''Athenian Constitution'', only the {{lang|grc-Latn|pentakosiomedimnoi}} were eligible for election to high office as archons and therefore only they gained admission into the Areopagus.<ref>''Athenaion Politeia'' [[s:Athenian Constitution#7|7–8]].</ref> A modern view affords the same privilege to the {{lang|grc-Latn|hippeis}}.<ref>''Oxford Classical Dictionary'' (3rd edition 1996), s. v. 'Solon'.</ref> The top three classes were eligible for a variety of lesser posts and only the {{lang|grc-Latn|thetes}} were excluded from all public office.