Attica is the easternmost part of Central Greece. It is bounded to the east by the Aegean Sea and to the south by the Saronic Gulf. To the northwest is Boeotia, and to the southwest is Megaris on the Isthmus. Its capital Athens, located at the centre of the largest plain, was about seven kilometres (≈4 miles) from the sea but had easy access to the harbours at Piraeus and Phalerum and good communications with the rest of the region. Within the city the citadel, known as the Acropolis (‘upper city’), was a large fortified flat-topped rock rising forty-five metres (≈150 ft) above the level of the plain.
During the reign of Cecrops, the first mythical king of Athens, Athena (from whom the place took its name) fought a successful struggle with Poseidon over the patronage of Attica. Theseus, son of Poseidon, unified Attica, a synoecism later celebrated at a festival called the Synoikia. When Ion, son of Apollo, became king of Athens, his four sons established the four Ionian phylai (‘tribes’) of Attica. Legend tells how the last Athenian king, Codrus, gave his life to save Athens from capture by the Dorians.
Under the kingship the people were organised into hierarchical kinship groups consisting of the oikos (‘family’), genos (‘clan’), phratry (‘brotherhood’) and phyle (‘tribe’). Clan members were related, at least in theory, by blood. Phratries were the link between clan and state: every child within a clan was admitted into a phratry and thus became a future citizen.
After the death of Codrus he was replaced by three archons: the Archon Basileus, who replaced the king in his capacity as high-priest; the Archon Eponymous, whose name was given to the year; and the Archon Polemarch, who was the Commander-in-Chief of the troops. The Medontid Dynasty (Codrus’ son was named Medon) continued to hold a hereditary life-office (probably Basileus); the two other offices were presumably elective. Later (750 BC?) the duration of the three archons was limited to ten years; and in c.683 BC the archonship was made annual and all the rights of the Mendontidae had disappeared. Shortly after this the number of archons was increased to nine by the election of six Thesmothetae as the Chief Magistrates of the state.
In Athens there was a council called the Areopagus (‘Hill of Ares’). During the monarchy and much of the aristocratic period the council consisted of the Eupatridae (nobles). After some time, ex-archons and archons in office were also admitted. It is likely that the council began as a body advising first the king and later the archons. At Athens the people’s Assembly was known as the Ecclesia. It was open to all male citizens but as yet had little share in the decision making.
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