ASPASIA
Welcome, wanderer, to the democratic center
of Athens, otherwise known as the Pnyx.
ASPASIA
My name is Aspasia.
Though I am not originally from Athens, I
have climbed to the top of its social ladder
using my wit and intellect.
ASPASIA
I've even earned the love of Perikles, one
of the most powerful men in the city.
ASPASIA
The mind truly is a beautiful thing.
ASPASIA
The battles fought here may be more intellectual
than bloody, but they are no less spectacular.
These outcomes will affect an entire city
in a different way
ASPASIA
The Pnyx was the meeting place of the Athenian
assembly, and the physical embodiment of democracy
at work.
ASPASIA
This tour will give you insight into how citizens
made decisions and kept the city running.
ASPASIA
We can talk more when you have finished the
tour.
See you soon, wanderer.
NARRATOR
The Athenian assembly was known as the ekklesia.
It met at the Pnyx forty times a year to discuss
various civic matters, -
NARRATOR
- and each session usually lasted a few hours.
NARRATOR
The word pnyx is believed to mean something
close to "packed together".
NARRATOR
This was probably a reference to the fact
that during meetings of the ekklesia, -
NARRATOR
- the location would be filled to its capacity,
with citizens packed in practically shoulder-to-shoulder.
NARRATOR
All male citizens were allowed to directly
participate in the democratic process.
NARRATOR
Those over twenty years old had the right
to speak and vote, while those over thirty
could be elected to the higher position of
magistrate.
NARRATOR
In total, there were approximately 30,000
citizens in Athens in the classical period.
To draft and adopt decrees, 6,000 of them
had to attend the meeting.
NARRATOR
Citizens came from all over Attika's ten districts
to attend the meetings of the ekklesia.
NARRATOR
The meeting was presided over by an executive
council called the prytaneis.
NARRATOR
Every session began with a sacrifice to Zeus
Agoraios, the patron of the assembly.
NARRATOR
During the meeting, citizens delivered speeches
from the Pnyx's platform on whatever issues
the city faced.
NARRATOR
Afterwards, the issue was voted on with a
show of hands from the gathered assembly.
NARRATOR
The ekklesia made important decisions about
subjects like grain importation, expenses,
and declarations of war.
NARRATOR
While they could not directly enact laws,
they had a say in appointing Athens's legislators,
which gave them a large role in shaping the
city's daily operations.
NARRATOR
While some citizens only participated in the
sessions of the ekklesia, others could become
more involved in democracy as magistrates.
NARRATOR
Magistrates were elected from among Athenian
citizens over thirty.
NARRATOR
They were often successful orators and charismatic
politicians, and they held much more sway
over important decisions than the average citizen.
NARRATOR
One of the most famous magistrates was Perikles,
who was so popular he held his position for
fifteen years.
NARRATOR
In theory, every Athenian citizen over the
age of twenty had the right to participate
in the assembly.
NARRATOR
However, some of them lived far from the city,
and others could not financially afford to
miss a day of work to attend meetings.
NARRATOR
For these reasons, the city introduced a special
allowance called a misthos ekklesiastikos
in the 4th century BCE, meant to encourage
participation.
NARRATOR
Originally, it was two obols, but the politician
Kleon raised it to three.
NARRATOR
Athens introduced several innovations that
heavily influenced modern society, including
theater, architecture, and philosophy.
NARRATOR
However, their greatest contribution was their
democratic government, which introduced the
concept of a city ruled by its citizens.
NARRATOR
The decision to adopt democracy as a government
- a choice made in 508 BCE - shaped civilization
as we know it, and continues to affect us today.
ASPASIA
Hello again, wanderer.
ASPASIA
I trust you appreciated learning about the
inner workings of the city.
ASPASIA
Is there anything else you'd like to do?
ASPASIA
Then let's start with a simple question.
ASPASIA
Approximately how many citizens were in Athens in my time?
ASPASIA
That's too low a number for this big city.
Try again.
ASPASIA
Athens's general population was believed to
be around 300,000, but only a select few of
this number were citizens.
ASPASIA
Keep trying.
ASPASIA
Approximately how many citizens were in Athens in my time?
ASPASIA
What?
There aren't that many people living in the
entire world, let alone in the city of Athens.
Try a different answer.
ASPASIA
Yes!
There were approximately 30,000 citizens in
Athens, although the population as a whole
was much larger.
ASPASIA
On to the second question.
ASPASIA
Who of the following was a famous Athenian
magistrate?
ASPASIA
Leonidas was a Spartan warrior king.
Try again.
ASPASIA
Plato was brilliant and eloquent, but he was
a philosopher, not a magistrate.
Keep trying.
ASPASIA
Perseus was a legendary hero, but he was never
an Athenian magistrate.
Try another answer.
ASPASIA
Yes!
Perikles was an extremely popular magistrate
who managed to keep his position for fifteen years!
ASPASIA
Only one question left.
ASPASIA
What does the word Pnyx mean?
ASPASIA
People may have met at the Pnyx, but it's
name did not mean "meeting place".
Try again.
ASPASIA
I'm afraid not, although people often gave
speeches during sessions.
Keep trying.
ASPASIA
An accurate description, but incorrect.
Try another answer.
ASPASIA
Correct!
The Pnyx was usually crowded with citizens
attending meetings of the ekklesia.
ASPASIA
You know enough about democracy to be a politician
yourself.
Well done, wanderer.
ASPASIA
Very well.
Farewell, wanderer.
