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Conditions and Terms of Use Copyright © Heritage History 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS Some rights reserved This text was produced and distributed by Heritage History, an STATESMAN AND POET ................................................... 3 organization dedicated to the preservation of classical juvenile history A FAMOUS MARRIAGE ................................................... 7 books, and to the promotion of the works of traditional history authors. THE EXILES OF PHOCAEA .............................................. 9 The books which Heritage History republishes are in the public domain and are no longer protected by the original copyright. THE BATTLE-FIELD OF FREEDOM ............................... 11 They may therefore be reproduced within the United States without THE THREE HUNDRED ................................................. 15 paying a royalty to the author. 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THE ONE HERO OF THEBES ......................................... 99 Permission to use Heritage History documents or images for commercial purposes, or more information about our collection of traditional history resources can be obtained by contacting us at [email protected]. Original Copyright 1891 by Alfred J. Church 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 CHAPTER I small island which lies close to the harbour of the former city, and would, in the hands of an enemy, be a perpetual menace to its trade. The fortune of war went so decidedly against the STATESMAN AND POET Athenians that they abandoned the struggle, and even passed a law which imposed the penalty of death on anyone who should Solon is the first figure that stands out distinctly in suggest its renewal. Solon resolved to run the risk. He caused a Greek story. When I say this, I do not mean to deny the report to be spread that he was mad—madness is invested with historical reality of all the legendary heroes. There may well a certain sanctity and even respect in the eyes of a half- have been, for instance, an actual Theseus, a strong man who civilized people. When this had gained sufficient credence, he cleared Attica of brigandage, and brought all its towns and rushed into the Assembly, and taking his stand on the stone independent tribes into one political entity. But the life of which the public crier was accustomed to occupy when he Theseus, as Plutarch tells it, is clearly a romance, while the life announced news of importance to the city, he told the people of Solon, by the same writer, is as clearly an actual biography. what he thought about Salamis. This he put in the form of Very possibly some things in it are not facts, but it has verse. The poem was a hundred lines in length, and was, says throughout the note of reality. Plutarch, who had it before him when he wrote, admirably Solon was of the noblest Athenian birth, claiming composed. The eight lines that have been preserved go far to descent, indeed, from the patriot King Codrus. His father had justify this praise. His friends and kinsmen, led by Pisistratus, greatly impaired the family fortunes by his munificence, and of whom we shall soon hear again, loudly applauded. The the young Solon was constrained to repair them by trade. Trade people were taken by storm. The law was hastily repealed, and in those days implied adventure. The trader did not stay at an expedition which Solon was to command was determined home to buy and sell in an inglorious security, but was ever on upon. the search for new markets, and did the work of an explorer, His first step was to assure himself of divine favour. He though always with a view to his own advantage. Solon, consulted the oracle of Delphi, and was told that he must indeed, was no idealist. Though reckoned among the Seven propitiate the heroes of the island. This he did by landing at Wise Men of Greece, his wisdom was of a practical, even night, and performing the customary sacrifices in secrecy. The vulgar type. To describe him by names which belong, of attack which followed was, as may be seen, skilfully contrived, course, to a much later time he was an Epicurean rather than a though it may be doubtful whether the story of Solon's Stoic. He does not affect to despise pleasure; on the contrary, stratagem is authentic. According to this, he dressed up a he declares his appreciation of it in terms that are undignified number of Athenians as women, providing them at the same and even coarse. He avows with perfect frankness his wish for time with arms, which they concealed under their feminine wealth. He will not, indeed, consent to acquire it by unjust apparel. This done, he sent a messenger, in the guise of a rules; to do that provokes the divine wrath; but he holds it to be deserter, to the Megarian garrison in Salamis, with information among the most desirable of human goods. that they might find a number of Athenian women celebrating a Solon's first appearance in public life was eminently festival on the shore at a time and place specified. The garrison successful, and probably did much to give him the influence fell into the trap, and suffered so disastrous a loss that the which he afterwards acquired over his countrymen. Athens and island was left without defence. According to another account Megara had long contended for the possession of Salamis, a he had recourse to a more ordinary kind of strategy. The result Original Copyright 1891 by Alfred J. Church 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 was that Athens acquired possession of the island, though, as finally settled a very difficult question. We never hear again in Megara was not disposed to accept its defeat, not till after an Athenian history of agrarian troubles. arbitration which Sparta decided in favour of the Athenians. This social legislation was accompanied by political Solon's next exploit was to procure the punishment of reforms. The citizens of Athens were divided into classes the inhabitants of Cirrha, the seaport by which the oracle of which remind us with curious exactness of the constitution Delphi was approached. The Cirrhaeans wore accustomed, it attributed to the Roman King Servius Tullius. The division was seems, to exact heavy imports from visitors to the oracle; they based on property, the standard employed being such as we were even accused of robbery and violence. Solon induced the might expect to find in so early a state of society. The first council of the Amphictyons to interfere; after a long struggle class, which had the monopoly of all the high offices of state, Cirrha was subdued. In the story told by one writer, many consisted of such as possessed an annual income equal to the centuries after the event, it is true, we find Solon getting rid of value of five hundred medimni (seven hundred bushels) of his enemies by poisoning the waters of the river which they wheat. Next to these came those who had from three to five drank. hundred medimni. These were supposed to be wealthy enough But more important work remained for Solon to do. He to keep a horse and so to serve as mounted soldiers, and were had to set the domestic affairs