The ekklesia of ancient
Athens is particularly well-known. It was the popular assembly, open to all male citizens as soon as they qualified for citizenship. In 594 BC,
Solon allowed all Athenian citizens to participate, regardless of class. The assembly was responsible for declaring war, military strategy and electing the
strategoi and other officials. It was responsible for nominating and electing magistrates (
árchontes), thus indirectly electing the members of the
Areopagus. It had the final say on legislation and the right to call magistrates to account after their year of office. A typical meeting of the Assembly probably contained around 6,000 people, out of a total citizen population of 30,000–60,000. It would have been difficult, however, for non-wealthy people outside the urban centre of Athens to attend until reimbursements for attendance were introduced in the 390s. It originally met once every month, but later met three or four times per month. The agenda for the ekklesia was established by the
Boule, the popular council. Votes were taken by a show of hands, counting of stones and voting using broken pottery. A police force of 300
Scythian slaves carried red ochre-stained ropes to induce the citizens who loitered in the
agora of Athens to attend the meetings of the assembly. Anyone with red-stained clothes who was not in the meeting was liable to a penalty. A quorum of 6,000 members was required sometimes to do business. The ecclesia elected the Boule annually by lot. Some of their power under
Solon was delegated to the Court by
Pericles in his reforms. ==Ekklesiasterion==