Zeugitae
Encyclopedia
Zeugitae were members of the third census division created by Solon
's constitutional reforms in ancient Athens. The Zeugitae were those whose property or estate could produce 200 bushels of wet or dry goods (or their equivalent), per year. The term appears to have come from the Greek word for "yoke", which has led modern scholars to conclude that zeugitae were either men who could afford a yoke of oxen or men who were "yoked together" in the phalanx—that is, men who could afford their own hoplite
armor.
The Zeugitae could serve as Hoplites in the Athenian Army. The idea was that you could serve as a Hoplite if you had enough money to equip yourself in that manner, i.e. you could produce 200 bushels or more per year.
At the time of Solon's reforms, zeugitae were granted the right to hold certain minor political offices. Their status rose through the years; in 463 BC they were granted the right to hold the archon
ship, and in the late 5th century moderate oligarchs advocated for the creation of an oligarchy in which all men of hoplite status or higher would be enfranchised, and such a regime was indeed established for a time during the Athenian coup of 411 BC
.
They were eligible for a few positions of government in Athens such as:
Other classes included the Pentakosiomedimnoi, Hippeis
and Thetes.
Solon
Solon was an Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet. He is remembered particularly for his efforts to legislate against political, economic and moral decline in archaic Athens...
's constitutional reforms in ancient Athens. The Zeugitae were those whose property or estate could produce 200 bushels of wet or dry goods (or their equivalent), per year. The term appears to have come from the Greek word for "yoke", which has led modern scholars to conclude that zeugitae were either men who could afford a yoke of oxen or men who were "yoked together" in the phalanx—that is, men who could afford their own hoplite
Hoplite
A hoplite was a citizen-soldier of the Ancient Greek city-states. Hoplites were primarily armed as spearmen and fought in a phalanx formation. The word "hoplite" derives from "hoplon" , the type of the shield used by the soldiers, although, as a word, "hopla" could also denote weapons held or even...
armor.
The Zeugitae could serve as Hoplites in the Athenian Army. The idea was that you could serve as a Hoplite if you had enough money to equip yourself in that manner, i.e. you could produce 200 bushels or more per year.
At the time of Solon's reforms, zeugitae were granted the right to hold certain minor political offices. Their status rose through the years; in 463 BC they were granted the right to hold the archon
Archon
Archon is a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem ἀρχ-, meaning "to rule", derived from the same root as monarch, hierarchy, and anarchy.- Ancient Greece :In ancient Greece the...
ship, and in the late 5th century moderate oligarchs advocated for the creation of an oligarchy in which all men of hoplite status or higher would be enfranchised, and such a regime was indeed established for a time during the Athenian coup of 411 BC
Athenian coup of 411 BC
The Athenian coup of 411 BC was a revolutionary movement during the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta that overthrew the democratic government of ancient Athens by replacing it with a short-lived oligarchy known as The Four Hundred....
.
They were eligible for a few positions of government in Athens such as:
- Council of 400
- Lower Offices of State
- EcclesiaEcclesia (ancient Athens)The ecclesia or ekklesia was the principal assembly of the democracy of ancient Athens during its "Golden Age" . It was the popular assembly, opened to all male citizens over the age of 30 with 2 years of military service by Solon in 594 BC meaning that all classes of citizens in Athens were able...
- In 457 the archonship was opened to zeugitae
Other classes included the Pentakosiomedimnoi, Hippeis
Hippeis
Hippeis was the Greek term for cavalry. The Hippeus was the second highest of the four Athenian social classes, made of men who could afford to maintain a war horse in the service of the state. The rank may be compared to Roman Equestrians and medieval knights. Among the Athenians, it referred to...
and Thetes.