Editing Solon (section)

=== Archonship ===
According to Diogenes Laertius, in 594 BC, Solon was chosen [[Eponymous archon|archon]], or chief magistrate.<ref>[http://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/solon.html Solon of Athens<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Solon repealed all of Draco's laws except those relating to homicide.<ref>Plutarch, ''Solon'' [[wikisource:Lives (Dryden translation)/Solon#17|17]].</ref>   

During Solon's time, many [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] city-states had seen the emergence of [[tyrant]]s, opportunistic [[noblemen]] who had taken power on behalf of sectional interests.{{efn|In [[Sicyon]], [[Cleisthenes of Sicyon|Cleisthenes]] had usurped power on behalf of an [[Ionians|Ionian]] minority. In [[Megara]], [[Theagenes of Megara|Theagenes]] had come to power as an enemy of the local [[oligarchy|oligarchs]]. The son-in-law of Theagenes, an Athenian nobleman named [[Cylon of Athens|Cylon]], made an unsuccessful attempt to seize power in Athens in 632 BC.}} Solon was described by Plutarch as having been temporarily awarded [[autocratic]] powers by Athenian citizens on the grounds that he had the wisdom to sort out their differences for them in a peaceful and equitable manner.<ref>Plutarch ''Solon'' 14 [[wikisource:Lives (Dryden translation)/Solon#14|s:Lives (Dryden translation)/Solon#14]]</ref> Some modern scholars believe these powers were in fact granted some years after Solon had been archon, when he would have been a member of the [[Areopagus]] and probably a more respected statesman by his peers.<ref>Stanton G.R. ''Athenian Politics c. 800–500 BC: A Sourcebook'', Routledge, London (1990), p. 36.</ref><ref>Hignett C. ''A History of the Athenian Constitution to the End of the Fifth Century B.C.'' (Oxford University Press 1952).</ref><ref>Miller, M. ''Arethusa'' 4 (1971) 25–47.</ref>  

As archon, Solon discussed his intended reforms with some friends. Knowing that he was about to cancel all debts, these friends took out loans and promptly bought some land. Suspected of complicity, Solon complied with his own law and released his own debtors, amounting to five [[talent (measurement)|talent]]s (or 15 according to some sources). His friends never repaid their debts.<ref>Plutarch ''Solon'' 15 [[s:Lives (Dryden translation)/Solon#15]]</ref>