Greece - Greek Law - Ancient Greek Government
Krypteia (Cryptia) - Plutarch's Lycurgus on the Krypteia
The Spartan educational system included a secret training known as the krypteia or cryptia.
The Great Rhetra - Plutarch, Life of Lycurgus of Sparta 6:
Section from Plutarch's biography of Lycurgus of Sparta on the Great Rhetra, including lines from the Spartan poet Tyrtaeus on the rhetra.
Cylon and Draco
Cylon tried to become dictator of the Athenians and Draco was the Athenian whose laws were written not in ink but blood.
Democracy Then and Now
Introduction to the opinions of ancient philosophers, historians, and orators on the subject of the Athenian experiment in democracy.
The Four Tribes
What they were and how the four tribes of Attica functioned. The power hierarchy of the oikos, genos, phratry, and tribe.
Sparta: Lycurgus
Because of their lifestyle the word Spartan now refers to a life free of luxury and the word laconic to a language without elaboration. Here you'll find out more about these ancient enemies of the Athenians.
Solon
Solon, the law-giver of Athens, got rid of debt-bondage and instituted constitutional reforms that paved the way for the first democracy.
Aristotle On the Lacedaemonian Constitution
Comparison of Spartan and Cretan law (c. 340 B.C.) and delineation of the flaws in the Spartan Constitution.
Athenian Constitution
Attributed to Aristotle (c. 350 B.C.). Translated by Sir Frederic G. Kenyon.
Law Code of Gortyn
From Crete (450 B.C.). These 600 lines of law code dealing with family relations and property rights discovered in the nineteenth century are the largest document on Ancient Greek law.
Ostracism at Athens
List of the twelve known ostracisms with approximate dates and names, with a photo of an ostrakon.
Technology of Ancient Democracy
Information on how the Greeks without the aid of modern technology were able to keep track of the bureaucratic arrangements of an ancient democracy, including who's in office, who's eligible, and how decisions were reached.
Plato's Laws
From the Internet Classics Archive, the Benjamin Jowett translation.