Exile, Ostracism, and Democracy : The Politics of Expulsion in Ancient Greece

This book explores the cultural and political significance of ostracism in democratic Athens. In contrast to previous interpretations, Sara Forsdyke argues that ostracism was primarily a symbolic institution whose meaning for the Athenians was determined both by past experiences of exile and by its role as a context for the ongoing negotiation of democratic values. The first part of the book demonstrates the strong connection between exile and political power in archaic Greece. In Athens and elsewhere, elites seized power by expelling their rivals. Violent intra-elite conflict of this sort was a highly unstable form of ''politics that was only temporarily checked by various attempts at elite self-regulation. A lasting solution to the problem of exile was found only in the late sixth century during a particularly intense series of violent expulsions. At this time, the Athenian people rose up and seized simultaneously control over decisions of exile and political power. The close connection between political power and the power of expulsion explains why ostracism was a central part of the democratic reforms. Forsdyke shows how ostracism functioned both as a symbol of democratic power and as a key term in the ideological justification of democratic rule. Crucial to the author's interpretation is the recognition that ostracism was both a remarkably mild form of exile and one that was infrequently used. By analyzing the representation of exile in Athenian imperial decrees, in the works of Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, and in tragedy and oratory, Forsdyke shows how exile served as an important term in the debate about the best form of rule. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Chronology......Page 12 Abbreviations and Conventions......Page 14 INTRODUCTION: Problems, Methods, Concepts......Page 18 Intra-elite Conflict and the Early Greek Polis......Page 32 Continuity and Change: Social Diversity in Dark Age Greece......Page 34 The Eighth Century and the Rise of the Polis......Page 35 Conclusion......Page 45 Four Case Studies: Mytilene, Megara, Samos, and Corinth......Page 47 Archaic Poetry and History: A Methodological Introduction......Page 49 Mytilene......Page 53 Megara......Page 65 Samos......Page 76 Corinth......Page 86 Conclusion......Page 94 The Origins of Democracy in Athens, circa 636–508/7......Page 96 The Politics of Exile in Archaic Athens: Cylon, Draco, and the Trial of the Alcmeonidae......Page 97 The Beginnings of Change: Solon......Page 107 A New Type of Politics: Pisistratus and Sons......Page 118 An End to the Politics of Exile: Cleisthenes and the Democratic Revolution......Page 150 Conclusion......Page 159 CHAPTER FOUR: Ostracism and Exile in Democratic Athens......Page 161 The Procedure of Ostracism......Page 163 Ostracism as a Symbolic Institution......Page 166 Ostracisms in Fifth-Century Athens......Page 182 Other Forms of Exile under the Athenian Democracy......Page 195 Exile and the Oligarchic Revolutions of 411 and 404......Page 198 Conclusion......Page 221 Expulsion in Inter-State Politics......Page 222 Athenian Control and Limitation of Exile: The Erythrae Decree......Page 224 Further Regulation of Exile: The Chalcis Decree......Page 227 A Judicial Decree?......Page 240 Thucydides, Isocrates, and the Legitimacy of Athenian Power......Page 243 Exile and the Tyrant City: A Critique of Athenian Power......Page 249 Exile and the Mythical Past: The Defense of Athenian Power......Page 251 Conclusion......Page 256 CHAPTER SIX: Exile in the Greek Mythical and Historical Imagination......Page 257 Myth, History, and Social Memory: Approaching the Greek Historical Imagination......Page 259 Exile in the Democratic Tradition......Page 261 Exile in the Anti-Democratic Tradition......Page 284 Conclusion......Page 293 CONCLUSION......Page 295 Appendix One: The Date of the Athenian Law of Ostracism......Page 298 Appendix Two: Ostracism outside Athens......Page 302 Appendix Three: Exile in Spartan Myth and History......Page 306 Bibliography......Page 318 A......Page 344 D......Page 345 H......Page 346 P......Page 347 S......Page 348 X......Page 349 A......Page 351 C......Page 352 D......Page 353 G......Page 354 I......Page 355 M......Page 356 O......Page 357 P......Page 358 S......Page 359 T......Page 360 Z......Page 361 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Chronology 12 Abbreviations and Conventions 14 INTRODUCTION: Problems, Methods, Concepts 18 CHAPTER ONE: Setting the Stage 32 Intra-elite Conflict and the Early Greek Polis 32 Continuity and Change: Social Diversity in Dark Age Greece 34 The Eighth Century and the Rise of the Polis 35 Conclusion 45 CHAPTER TWO: The Politics of Exile and the Crisis of the Archaic Polis 47 Four Case Studies: Mytilene, Megara, Samos, and Corinth 47 Archaic Poetry and History: A Methodological Introduction 49 Mytilene 53 Megara 65 Samos 76 Corinth 86 Conclusion 94 CHAPTER THREE: From Exile to Ostracism 96 The Origins of Democracy in Athens, circa 636–508/7 96 The Politics of Exile in Archaic Athens: Cylon, Draco, and the Trial of the Alcmeonidae 97 The Beginnings of Change: Solon 107 A New Type of Politics: Pisistratus and Sons 118 An End to the Politics of Exile: Cleisthenes and the Democratic Revolution 150 Conclusion 159 CHAPTER FOUR: Ostracism and Exile in Democratic Athens 161 The Procedure of Ostracism 163 Ostracism as a Symbolic Institution 166 Ostracisms in Fifth-Century Athens 182 Other Forms of Exile under the Athenian Democracy 195 Exile and the Oligarchic Revolutions of 411 and 404 198 Conclusion 221 CHAPTER FIVE: Exile and Empire 222 Expulsion in Inter-State Politics 222 Athenian Control and Limitation of Exile: The Erythrae Decree 224 Further Regulation of Exile: The Chalcis Decree 227 A Judicial Decree? 240 Thucydides, Isocrates, and the Legitimacy of Athenian Power 243 Exile and the Tyrant City: A Critique of Athenian Power 249 Exile and the Mythical Past: The Defense of Athenian Power 251 Conclusion 256 CHAPTER SIX: Exile in the Greek Mythical and Historical Imagination 257 Myth, History, and Social Memory: Approaching the Greek Historical Imagination 259 Exile in the Democratic Tradition 261 Exile in the Anti-Democratic Tradition 284 Conclusion 293 CONCLUSION 295 Appendix One: The Date of the Athenian Law of Ostracism 298 Appendix Two: Ostracism outside Athens 302 Appendix Three: Exile in Spartan Myth and History 306 Bibliography 318 Index Locorum 344 A 344 C 345 D 345 E 346 G 346 H 346 I 347 J 347 L 347 M 347 N 347 P 347 S 348 T 349 X 349 General Index 351 A 351 B 352 C 352 D 353 E 354 F 354 G 354 H 355 I 355 J 356 K 356 L 356 M 356 N 357 O 357 P 358 R 359 S 359 T 360 V 361 W 361 X 361 Z 361 This book explores the cultural and political significance of ostracism in democratic Athens. In contrast to previous interpretations, Sara Forsdyke argues that ostracism was primarily a symbolic institution whose meaning for the Athenians was determined both by past experiences of exile and by its role as a context for the ongoing negotiation of democratic values.The first part of the book demonstrates the strong connection between exile and political power in archaic Greece. In Athens and else-where, elites seized power by expelling their rivals (a form of political competition which the author calls "the politics of exile"). Violent intra-elite conflict of this sort was a highly unstable form of politics that was only temporarily checked by various attempts at elite self-regulation. A lasting solution to the problem of exile was found only in the late sixth century during a particularly intense series of violent expulsions. At this time, the Athenian people rose up and seized simultaneous control over decisions of exile and political power. The close connection between political power and the power of expulsion explains why ostracism was a central part of the democratic reforms.Forsdyke shows how ostracism functioned both as a symbol of democratic power and as a key term in the ideological justification of democratic rule. Crucial to the author's interpretation is the recognition that ostracism was both a remarkably mild form of exile and one that was infrequently used. By analyzing the representation of exile in Athenian imperial decrees, in the works of Herodotus, Thucydides, Plato, Aristotle, and in tragedy and oratory, Forsdyke shows how exile served as an important term in the debate about the best form of rule. This Book Explores The Cultural And Political Significance Of Ostracism In Democratic Athens. In Contrast To Previous Interpretations, Sara Forsdyke Argues That Ostracism Was Primarily A Symbolic Institution Whose Meaning For The Athenians Was Determined Both By Past Experiences Of Exile And By Its Role As A Context For The Ongoing Negotiation Of Democratic Values.--jacket. Introduction : Problems, Methods, Concepts -- Ch. 1. Setting The Stage -- Ch. 2. The Politics Of Exile And The Crisis Of The Archaic Polis -- Ch. 3. From Exile To Ostracism -- Ch. 4. Ostracism And Exile In Democratic Athens -- Ch. 5. Exile And Empire -- Ch. 6. Exile In The Greek Mythical And Historical Imagination -- App. 1. The Date Of The Athenian Law Of Ostracism -- App. 2. Ostracism Outside Athens -- App. 3. Exile In Spartan Myth And History. Sara Forsdyke. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 301-325) And Indexes.