Theta
The thetes ( plural of ancient Greek θής thēs , wage workers, day laborers ) were the lower of the four census classes in the constitution of the Athenian statesman Solon . These were the landless, free lower class such as artisans , wage workers and traders . Formally, the status was determined by whoever harvested less than 200 bushels. The thets only had the right to vote, but were not allowed to take over offices. Although they were members of the people's assembly, their weight, in contrast to the hoplites, was low, since it was a matter of course to hold back on foreign policy questions if these are not armed. Since they did not belong to the oikos , their social position was even worse than that of some slaves , because they had to work on foreign estates, which was considered a disgrace. During the war they served as lightly armed men and, since Themistocles, also as rowers in the fleet. The rise to the rowers during the Persian Wars was essential for the emergence of democracy in Athens. Among other things, the respect gained through military service led to an increase in political importance - for the first time all four census classes had political rights.
The other three census classes are Pentakosiomedimnoi , Hippeis, and Zeugiten .
See also : Attic Democracy
Individual evidence
- ^ Wilhelm Gemoll : Greek-German school and hand dictionary . G. Freytag Verlag / Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky, Munich / Vienna 1965.
- ↑ Jochen Bleicken: The Athenian Democracy . 4th edition. Ferdinand Schöningh, Paderborn / Munich / Vienna / Zurich 1995, p. 27 .