A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

SOLON. SOLON. 859
them, and alleviate the miseries that prevailed. received, if the essential features of his view of
IIe was chosen Archon (B. C. 594), and under that the whole measure be rejected. On the whole we,legal title was invested with unlimited power for are disposed to deny that Solon did any thing to
adopting such measures as the exigencies of the restrict the rate of interest. We know that Sostate demanded. There were not wanting among lon's measures introduced a lasting settlement of
the friends of Solon those who urged him to take the law of debtor and creditor at Athens, and so
advantage of the opportunity thus afforded him, far from there being any evidence that the rate of
and make himself tyrant of Athens. Plutarch interest was ever limited, we find that the rate
(c. 14, comp. Bergk. I. c. Fr. 30, 32, p. 333) has of interest was declared free by a law which was
preserved some passages of the poems of Solon, ascribed to Solon himself (Lysias cont. Theomn.
referring to the feelings of surprise or contempt A. ~ 5. p. 360, comp. 356). To have introduced
with which his refusal was met by those who had a restriction as a temporary measure of relief
suggested the attempt. Indeed there can be no would have been merely a roundabout mode of
doubt that it would have been successful had it wholly or partially cancelling debts, and would
been made. That Silon should have had firmness have required it to be retrospective, and not proenough to resist such a temptation, argues the spective. But for this last view of the case there
possession on his part of a singular degree of virtue is no authority whatever.
and self-restraint. With respect to the depreciation of the coinage,
In fulfilment of the task entrusted to him, Solon we have the distinct statement that Solon made
addressed himself to the relief of the existing distress. the mina to contain 100 drachmae instead of 73;
This he effected with the greatest discretion and suc- that is to say, 73 of the old drachmae produced
cess bv his celebrated disburdening ordinance (oeLo- 100 of the new coinage, in which obligations were
dXOEsa), a measure consisting of various distinct to be discharged'; so that the debtor saved rather
provisions, calculated to lighten the pressure of more than a fourth in every payment. (Comp.
those pecuniary obligations by which the Thetes Bickh, Metrologische Untersuchungen, c. xv. p.
and small proprietors had been reduced to utter 276; Diet. of Antiq. art. Seisaclthleia. For the
helplessness and misery, with as little infringement grounds on which Mr. Grote disputes the stateas possible on the claims of the wealthy creditors. ment that Solon altered the weights and measures,
The details of this measure are, however, involved in see Classical lIuseume No. 1.) Respecting the
considerable uncertainty. Plutarch (Sol. 15) speaks story about the abuse made by three of the friends
of it as a total abolition of debts. This is in itself of Solon of their knowledge of his designs see
in the highest degree unlikely; and, as is acutely CALLIAS [Vol. I. p. 566]. The probity of Solon
remarked by Mr. Grote (Hlistory of Greece, vol. iii. himself was vindicated, as he was a considerable
p. 137), would have rendered a debasement of the loser by his own measure, having as much as five
coinage unnecessary and useless. On the other talents out at interest, which he set the example
hand it was certainly more than a reduction of of giving up.
the rate of interest, accompanied by a depreciation Though some of those who lost most through
of the currency (which was the view of Androtion the operation of the Seisachtheia were incensed at
ap. Plut. 1. c.), The extant fragments of the poems it, as was natural, its benefits were so great and
of Solon imply that a much larger amount of relief general that all classes united ere long in a
was afforded than we can conceive likely to be common festival of thanksgiving, which was also
produced by a measure of that kind, even if (as termed Seisachtheia. Wachsmnuth (1. c. ~ 56, vol. i.
Thirlwall supposes; see Hist. of Greece, vol. ii. p. 472) asserts very confidently that one effect of
p. 34) the reduction of interest was made retro- the Seisachtheia was to transform the serfs, or
spective, which is in fact only another way of villein tenants, into landed proprietors. Of this
saying that certain debts, or portions of debts, there is no proof. Another measure of relief inwere wiped off. We gather from Solon himself troduced by Solon was the restoration of all who
(Fragm. 35, ap. Bergk 1. c. p. 335; Plut. Sol. 15), had been condemned to atimia to their full privithat he cancelled all contracts by which the land, leges as citizens, except those who had been conperson, or family of a debtor had been pledged as demned by the Ephetae, the Areiopagus, or the
security, so that the mortgage-pillars were re- Phylo-basileis, for murder, homicide, or treason.
moved, slave-debtors released, and those who bad (Plut. Sol. 19.)
been sold into foreign countries restored. But it It seems that in the first instance nothing more
does not seeln necessary to suppose that in every was contemplated in the investment of Solon with
such case the debt was cancelled, as well as the dictatorial power than the relief of the existing
bond, though such may have been the case with distress. But the success of his Seisachtheia proregard to some of the most distressed class. At cured for him such confidence and popularity that
the same timle Solon abolished the law which gave he was further charged with the task of entirely
tihe creditor power to enslave an insolvent debtor, remodelling the constitution. As a preliminary
or allowed the debtor to pledge or sell his son, step to his further proceedings he repealed all the
daughter, or unmarried sister, excepting only the laws of Draco except those relating to bloodshed.
case in which either of the latter was convicted of With our imperfect knowledge of the'earlier pounchastity. (Plut. Sol. 23). " Most writers (comp. litical constitution of the people of Attica it is
Thirlwali, 1. c.; Wachsmuth. Hellen. Alterthums- impossible to estimate with any certainty the
kunde, ~ 56, vol. i. p. 472) seem to admit, with- magnitude of the change which Solon effected.
out any question, the statement that Solon lowered Till it can be settled whether the division into four
the rate of interest. This, however, rests only on tribes was restricted to the Eupatridae, or included
the authority (or conjecture) of Androtion, and as the Geomori and Demiurgi, it is impossible to ashis account is based upon an erroneous view of certain in what position the ruling class stood to
the whole matter, it may fairly be questioned the unenfranchised demus, and consequently how
whether any portion of his statement is to be far the latter was affected by the legislation oU