HISTORY 36B Lecture Notes - Lecture 30: Archon Basileus, Eponymous Archon, Phyle
Document Summary
Possible that the phylai served as political and military divisions. Process of villages organizing as one political unit - the polis. Theseus abolishes all local governments and established one government in athens. Common tradition of attributing important events of preliterate period to a great figure of the legendary past. Athenians believed they were autochtonous (from the land) After unification, everyone in attica was athenian and could participate in government and vote. Oversaw religion/cults of the polis, judged lawsuits pertaining to cult oversaw all public affairs, presided over the council and assembly, judged nonreligious cases until creation of thesmothetai. 9 archons elected for one year terms and came from a small group of aristocratic property. 9 archons ruled as one body with the council of the areopagus. Council of the areopagus (met on the hill sacred to ares) The assembly former archons with lifetime membership all athenian male citizens. Aristotle says archons were elected by the assembly.
