Ephialtes, Themistokles, And Pericles In Constitution Of Athens

Athenian Democracy Reformation

In “Constitution of Athens,” Chapters 23-29, Aristotle relates the roles of Ephialtes, Themistokles and Pericles in the reformation of the Areopagus and democracy during the fifth century BCE. The reforms initiated by these men shaped democracy in Athens and greatly influenced democracy as we now know it.

The Areopagus was the ruling body of Athens in pre-classical times, which consisted of a council of aristocratic Athenian elders who had previously held the position of Archon. In 594 BCE, Solon made the first reformations to the Areopagus by changing the way Archons were appointed, limiting their term and abolishing all debts (Blackwell, “The Council of the Areopagus”). His reformations freed many from

the enslavement of debt (AP 6.1.) The policies Solon set forth laid the foundation of democracy.
Little information exists about the early career of Ephialtes other than he served as a strategos (general) in command of an Aegean fleet sometime after 467 BCE (Blackwell, “The Council of the Areopagus”) During his service, he developed a reputation as an incorruptible, fair and just leader.

Ephialtes became the champion of the people, and in 462 BCE, along with his supporters, denounced the Areopagus before the Council and Assembly (Blackwell, “The History of the Council”.) According to Aristotle, Themistokles aided Ephialtes in his reforms, but the validity of his involvement is unlikely. While Aristotle tells how Themistokles conspired to enact revenge upon the Areopagus by tricking Ephialtes into denouncing it, the story is questionable. The Areopagus ostracized Themistokles in the late 470’s or early 460’s (Lewis, 358,) and he could not have been in Athens at that

time.
Ephialtes removed many of the members of the Areopagus on charges of “administrative misconduct” (AP, 25.2) and stripped away much of the power of the Areopagus during the Archonship of Conon, resulting in the loss of “guardianship of the state”. Ephialtes redistributed the power once held by the Areopagus between the Council of Five Hundred (boule,) the Assembly (Ekklesia), and the courts (dikasteria) (AP, 25.3.) Aristotle says that Aristodicus of Tanagra assassinated Ephialtes shortly after the reforms took place in 461 BCE (AP, 25.4), but no record of charges exists.
After the death of Ephialtes, little advancement occurred within the now weakened Areopagus and no significant reforms were enacted for six years. Previously, Archons were selected by lot, not by vote, and only members of the top two census divisions were considered for the position of Archon. In 457 BCE, the Zeugitae, the members of the third census division, obtained the right to participate in the selection of the nine Archons. In 453 BCE, the thirty justices (the magistrates of the deme)originally created by Pisistratus (AP, 16.5) were reinstated.
After the death of Ephialtes, Pericles became the undisputed leader of the democratic movement.

In 451 BCE, a growing population prompted Pericles to introduce and pass the proposal wherein citizenship should only be granted to a person whose parents were both citizens (AP, 26.4.) While Pericles never served as an Archon, he served as a popular stategos and won the ear of the people. Pericles enacted many measures popular with the public; he provided for allotments of lands to Athenian citizens that once belonged to those conquered and subjected by Athens, provided public funds for the people to attend the theater, and introduced payment for serving on a jury. Pericles’ policies arose in response to the generosity of his rival, Cimon, who gained popularity by using his wealth to regularly feed the poor in his deme and by opening his orchards for them to pick fruit (Plutarch, Cimon 9.) In response, Pericles created projects paid with public funds for the improvement and the glory of Athens, including the building of the Parthenon, which employed many citizens and tradesmen (Plutarch, Pericles 12.) In 463 BCE, Pericles charged Cimon with being pro-Spartan, and Cimon was ostracized (Plutarch, Pericles 9.) His rival gone, Pericles united the parties and became the leader and champion for democracy in Athens (Plutarch, Pericles15) and gained an even greater influence. Pericles was instrumental not only in the direction of democracy within Athens, but the direction of all aspects

of Athenian politics, including the army, navy, tributes, maritime affairs and the management of funds derived from their allies, including those of the Delian League (Plutarch, Pericles15.)
The Results of reform in the 5th century were a more democratic constitution and the rise of Athens into a greater state. Today, Athenian democracy still survives as a template for modern democracy. Some of the reforms still existing today include payment for jury duty, public funding of the arts, term limitations for government officials, and the use of public funds for civic improvement.