jul 1, 620 BC - Draconian Constitution

Description:

The Draconian constitution, or Draco's code, was a written law code created by Draco near the end of the 7th century BC in response to the unjust interpretation and modification of oral law by Athenian aristocrats.[4] With most societies in Greece codifying basic law during the mid-seventh century BC,[5] Athenian oral law was manipulated by the aristocracy[6] until the emergence of Draco's code. Around 621 BC the people of Athens commissioned Draco to devise a written law code and constitution, giving him the title of the first legislator of Athens. The literate could read the code at a central location accessible to anyone. This enactment of a rule of law was an early manifestation of Athenian democracy.

Background
The need for written laws began with the unequal access to legal knowledge by the aristocracy and the people; the established laws of Athens were inefficiently formulated in the spoken language and often modified and re-evaluated. The aristocratic exploitation of this system began during the mid-seventh century BC, and laws were often amended to benefit the aristocracy.[7] This triggered feuds by families ignorant of the law in an attempt to obtain justice.[8]

To minimize the incidence of these feuds, the governing aristocratic families of Athens decided to abandon their concealed system of legal proposals and amendments and promulgate them to Athenian society in writing. They authorized Draco, an aristocratic legislator,[9] to construct the written constitution, and he began to write the text around 621 BC. To promulgate the new constitution, its text was inscribed on displaying devices.[10] As a result, the Draconian constitution was accessible to the literate.

Draco introduced the concepts of intentional and unintentional homicide,[11] with both crimes adjudicated at the Areopagus.[12] Since murder cases were tried by the state, feuds as a form of justice became illegal. The homicide laws were the only laws retained by the early-6th-century BC Solonian Constitution.[13]

And Draco himself, they say, being asked why he made death the penalty for most offences, replied that in his opinion the lesser ones deserved it, and for the greater ones no heavier penalty could be found.

— Plutarch, Life of Solon
Although the full Draconian constitution no longer exists, severe punishments were reportedly meted out to those convicted of offenses as minor as stealing an apple.[14] There may have been only one penalty, execution, for all convicted violators of the Draconian constitution[15] and the laws were said to be written in blood instead of ink.[16] These legends have become part of the English language, with the adjective "draconian" referring to unusually harsh punishment.[17]

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