Solon

Lore & Background

Solon was born in Athens around 630 BC. His family was distinguished in Attica, belonging to a noble or Eupatrid clan. His father was probably Execestides, and his lineage could be traced back to Codrus, the last King of Athens. He had a brother named Dropides, an ancestor of Plato. Solon was related to the tyrant Pisistratus, for their mothers were cousins. He is said to have done business in maritime trade. When Athens and Megara contested possession of Salamis, Solon was made leader of the Athenian forces. Supported by Pisistratus, he defeated the Megarians around 595 BC. The dispute was later referred to the Spartans, who awarded the island to Athens. In 594 BC, Solon was chosen archon. He repealed all of Draco's laws except those relating to homicide. Solon was temporarily awarded autocratic powers by Athenian citizens. As archon, he discussed his intended reforms with some friends. Knowing he was about to cancel all debts, these friends took out loans and bought land. Suspected of complicity, Solon complied with his own law and released his own debtors, amounting to five talents (or 15 according to some sources). His friends never repaid their debts. After completing his reforms, Solon surrendered his authority and traveled abroad for ten years. His travels included Egypt, where he visited Pharaoh Amasis II and discussed philosophy with Egyptian priests; Cyprus, where he oversaw construction of a new capital named Soloi; and Sardis, where he met Croesus and gave advice. After returning to Athens, Solon became a staunch opponent of Pisistratus. He stood outside his own home in full armour, urging all to resist the would-be tyrant. Solon died shortly after Pisistratus usurped power. He died in Cyprus around age 70, and his ashes were scattered around Salamis.

Reader's Guide

Solon's reforms included debt relief known as seisachtheia (shaking off of burdens). He is described by Aristotle as 'the first people's champion'. Demosthenes credited his reforms with starting a golden age. Modern knowledge is limited because his works survive only in fragments with possible interpolations, and there is scarce documentary and archaeological evidence from early 6th century BC Athens. Ancient authors such as Philo of Alexandria, Herodotus, and Plutarch are main sources, but wrote long after his death. Fourth-century BC orators tended to attribute to Solon all the laws of their own times.

Did You Know?

• Solon was one of the Seven Sages of Greece, whose aphorisms adorned Apollo's temple in Delphi.
• According to Diogenes Laërtius, Solon's brother Dropides was an ancestor of Plato.
• Solon is said to have written a nationalist poem about Salamis that improved the morale of Athenian troops.
• A story relates that Solon, upon hearing a poem of Sappho sung by his nephew, asked to learn it so he could die knowing it.

Notable Quotes (Wikiquote)

"Solon (Greek: Σόλων, Sólōn; c. 638 – c. 558 BCE) was an Athenian statesman, lawgiver and poet.

He is numbered among the Seven Sages of Greece." — Solon "Greek text cited from M. L. West, Iambi et Elegi Graeci, vol. II (Oxford, 1992), whose numbering is also followed." — Solon "οὐδὲ φυλάσσονται σεμνὰ Δίκης θέμεθλα,ἣ σιγῶσα σύνοιδε τὰ γιγνόμενα πρό τ᾿ ἐόντα, τῷ δὲ χρόνῳ πάντως ἦλθ᾿ ἀποτεισομένη." — Solon "Nothing they reck of Justice' holy shrine,Who silent watches all that comes to pass,And in due time will mete out due reward." — Solon