Salon Gives a New Constitution to Athens

by Lee Lawrie, West Facade

In the 6th Century B.C., Athens was in turmoil. Solon was elected as Archon, or Magistrate in 594 B.C, He enacted new reforms that balanced the law to a more realistic and practical level, rather than a set of purely unworkable ideals. Enslaved debtors were freed, and laws were created to manage land and to coin money.

He also created a peoples assembly, and the peoples' court.