024 - Early Athens

In this episode, we discuss the early history of Athens from the mythical kings to the abolishment of the monarchy in the Dark Ages to the rise of the oligarchic constitution and finally to the social and economic crises at the end of the 7th century BC

ca. 900 BC - Medontidai archon/basileus of Athens was pre-eminent in Attica

ca. 900-750 BC - the synoecism of Attica took place

752 BC - length of Medontidai archonship changed from life to ten years

681 BC - three annually elected archons (eponymous, basileus, polemarch) was introduced

ca. 650 BC - six more archons were introduced (called the Thesmothetai); collectively together with the other three they are known as the College of Nine Archons; full aristocratic revolution of Athens has taken hold

632 BC - Cylon unsuccessfully attempted to establish an Athenian tyranny

621 BC - Draco enacted first written constitution in Athenian history

• Map/Ancient Attica

• Photo/Vase Painting of Cecrops

• Photo/Reconstruction of the Contest of Athena and Poseidon on the West Pediment of the Parthenon

• Photo/Vase Painting of Medea, Aegeus, and Theseus

• Photo/Vase Painting of the Labors of Theseus

• Map/Location of the Labors of Theseus

• Photo/Modern Statue of Theseus at Athens

• Video/Warrior Women: Amazons and the Greek Imagination

• Photo/Areopagus (the Hill of Ares)

• Photo/Shackled Skeletons of Cylon's Supporters?

• Photo/Representation of Draco at the Library of the US Supreme Court

Recommended Sources for Further Reading:

Text/Plutarch's Life of Theseus
Article/"Have we found the murdered followers of Cylon? Skeletons of 80 ancient men with their hands bound above their heads may belong to 7th Century BC Greek rebels who tried to stage a coup"

Recommended Podcast Episodes for Further Listening:

Myths and Legends Episode 17A Theseus: It's Dangerous to Go Alone
Myths and Legends Episode 17C Theseus: I Volunteer as Tribute
MythTake Episode 21 Theseus