The Athenian Constitution
- Langue:
- anglais
- État:
- Œuvre complète
- Paternité:
- Écrite par l'auteur
- État du texte:
- Aucun bruit de numérisation détecté (mesure automatique sur tout le texte, non vérifiée à la main)
- Étendue:
- ~25 500 mots · 121 passages
Citer cette œuvre
- APAAristote. (n.d.). The Athenian Constitution. Digital reproduction: SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/fr/works/aristotle/the-athenian-constitution
- MLAAristote. The Athenian Constitution. Digital reproduction, SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/fr/works/aristotle/the-athenian-constitution.
- ChicagoAristote. The Athenian Constitution. Digital reproduction, SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/fr/works/aristotle/the-athenian-constitution.
Référence de l'édition que reproduit SigPhi : SigPhi en est la reproduction numérique, pas l'éditeur. L'année de l'édition ne figure pas dans les métadonnées (d'où « n.d. ») et le traducteur n'apparaît que lorsqu'il est connu.
De quoi il s'agit
L'histoire et la description du régime athénien, perdues pendant des siècles et retrouvées sur un papyrus égyptien en 1879.
Contexte et histoire
Le texte fut publié en 1891 et demeure l'une des trouvailles qui ont le plus changé ce que nous savons du monde antique : la première partie raconte comment la constitution d'Athènes changea depuis les temps les plus anciens jusqu'à la démocratie restaurée, par Dracon, Solon, Pisistrate et Clisthène ; la seconde décrit le fonctionnement du système au IVe siècle, magistrature par magistrature, avec les tirages au sort, les indemnités et les tribunaux. Sans ce texte, une bonne part de ce qu'on dit de la démocratie athénienne ne pourrait se dire. Il appartenait à un recueil de cent cinquante-huit constitutions de cités rassemblées dans l'école d'Aristote ; c'est la seule qui nous soit parvenue. Les savants discutent s'il l'écrivit lui-même ou un disciple, et la question reste ouverte.
Contexte éditorial, non une source citable : contrairement aux passages de l'œuvre, ces données ne peuvent pas être vérifiées dans le corpus.
Archons; for which latter reason the membership of the Areopagus is the only office which has continued to be a life-magistracy to the present day. Part 4 Such was, in outline, the first constitution, but not very long after the events above recorded, in the archonship of Aristaichmus, Draco enacted his ordinances. Now his constitution had the following form. The franchise was given to all who could furnish themselves with a military equipment. The nine Archons and the Treasurers were elected by this body from persons possessing an unencumbered property of not less than ten minas, the less important officials from those who could furnish themselves with a military equipment, and the generals [Strategi] and commanders of the cavalry [Hipparchi] from those who could show an unencumbered property of not less than a hundred minas, and had children born in lawful wedlock over ten years of age. These officers were required to hold to bail the Prytanes, the Strategi, and the Hipparchi of the preceding year until their accounts had been audited, taking four securities of the same class as that to which the Strategi and the Hipparchi belonged. There was also to be a Council, consisting of four hundred and one members, elected by lot from among those who possessed the franchise. Both for this and for the other magistracies the lot was cast among those who were over thirty years of age; and no one might hold office twice until every one else had had his turn, after which they were to cast the lot afresh. If any member of the Council failed to attend when there was a sitting of the Council or of the Assembly, he paid a fine, to the amount of three drachmas if he was a Pentacosiomedimnus, two if he was a Knight, and One if he was a Zeugites. The Council of Areopagus was guardian of the laws, and kept watch over the magistrates to see that they executed their offices in accordance with the laws.…