Archon (Athens)

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Frieze of the Parthenon in Athens, detail with figure of archons.

Archon ( Greek ἄρχων Archon , German , Ruling ' ), pl. Archons, was the name of a high official in ancient Athens . The office is also occupied in other Greek cities or cities with Greek administration (for example under the Parthians ), see Archon (office) . According to the prevailing opinion today, the office was established in the 7th century BC. Chr.

Archons for life

In the 4th century the Athenians believed that the archonate was already in the 11th century BC. BC: Originally this was the title of the highest official who was elected for life and who had headed the state since the death of Kodros , the last king of Attica from the Melanthid family . According to Greek tradition , the reason for not re-occupying the office of monarch was that no one was found worthy to succeed Kodros on the throne, because before his death it had been prophesied that Attica would only then be victorious in war against the Peloponnesians if he died fighting. Politically, this meant the loss of the regent's absolute authority. This tradition is now considered a myth.

Archons with ten years in office

After the death of Alkmeon of Attica, the 13th archon for life (752/1 BC), the term of office is said to have been limited to ten years. This restriction was a further step away from autocracy towards democracy . According to the later tradition, there were seven archons with ten years in office. These are also considered fictional today.

Archons with a one-year term

In 682 BC The term of office was, it is said, reduced to one year. Since the Athenian list of archons begins this year, many researchers assume that the office was established at that time. Some are more skeptical and believe in an even later date.

In the course of time, the individual archons were replaced by a college of nine members with different areas of responsibility, the synarchontes : the archon eponymos was responsible for general management, and the year was also named after him. In addition, there was the Archon basileus as the highest religious cult official, the Archon polemarchos as the highest general, and six thesmoths , whose task was both the establishment and the interpretation of law. At the end of their year of office, the archons became members of the Aristocratic Council ( Areopagus ) for life .

The classic number of nine Athenian archons is probably the result of a longer development. Originally there was apparently only the Archon Eponymos and the Basileus . In the order of Solon , the archonate is said to have remained the highest executive body, but lost its importance through the reform of the Attic democracy by Kleisthenes of Athens in 508/507. From 487/486 BC. BC the archons were determined by lot, which prevented fights for office, but robbed the office of its political importance. This was now passed on to the elected military commanders, the ten strategists .

List of Archons

literature

See also

Demogeront

Individual evidence

  1. Alcmaeon in list of Athenian Archons