[Agora Webpage] Birth of Democracy: Practice of Ostracism

http://agathe.gr/democracy/practice_of_ostracism.html

Ostracism Soon after their victory over the Persians at the battle of Marathon in 490 B.C., the Athenians began the practice of ostracism, a form of election designed to curb the power of any rising tyrant ... Ostracism Soon after their victory over the Persians at the battle of Marathon in 490 B.C., the Athenians began the practice of ostracism, a form of election designed to curb the power of any rising tyrant. They were probably inspired at least in part by the fact that their old tyrant Hippias, who had been thrown out years before, accompanied the Persian fleet to Marathon, hoping to be reinstalled in power in Athens once again. ... More than 4,000 ostraka bearing Megakles' name were found in one deposit in the Kerameikos (the potters' quarter of Athens) and have been associated with the ostracism of 486 B.C., although the rude comments that accompany his name on some of these ostraka concentrate on his morals rather than on his tyrannical tendencies.

[Agora Webpage] AgoraPicBk 4 2004: Ostracism

http://agathe.gr/democracy/ostracism.html

Ostracism In addition to the legal assassination condoned in the Law against Tyranny, a less extreme method was also available for removing powerful but dangerous men from public life. This was a formal, ... Ostracism In addition to the legal assassination condoned in the Law against Tyranny, a less extreme method was also available for removing powerful but dangerous men from public life. ... Such was ostracism, introduced as a safeguard against tyranny, later used as a weapon by rival statesmen, and finally abandoned in the late fifth century when it deteriorated into a political game. 21. ... Stray sherds from the whole area represent later votes of ostracism and provide the names of most of Athens’ prominent statesmen (21, 22). 22.

[Agora Publication Page] Agora 25, s. 19, p. 1

Ostracism in Athens. Definition and Procedure. Aristotle, Athenaion Politeia. Plutarch, Aristeides. FGH IIIB, 328 F 30. Aristotle, AthPol 43.5. Pollux, 8.19-20. Plutarch, Aristeides 7. Diodorus, 11.55 ... Agora 25 1 ... Ostracism in Athens

[Agora Publication] Agora XXV: Ostraka

Lang, L ... American School of Classical Studies at Athens ... The scraps of pottery on which were written the names of candidates for ostracism are one of the most intriguing pieces of evidence for ancient democracy found in the Athenian Agora. This book is a complete ... 1990 ... The scraps of pottery on which were written the names of candidates for ostracism are one of the most intriguing pieces of evidence for ancient democracy found in the Athenian Agora. ... Chapter One discusses the history of ostracism in Athens with brief remarks about the “candidates.” ... The Athenian Agora: Results of Excavations Conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens