Pentacosiomedimnoi The or () were the top class of citizens: those whose property or estate could produce at least 500
medimnoi of wet or dry goods (or their equivalent), per year. They were eligible for all top positions of government in Athens. These were: • Nine
archons and treasurers •
Council of Areopagus (as ex-archons) •
Council of 500 •
Ecclesia The could also serve as generals () in the Athenian army.
Hippeis Prior to the rule of Solon, the term
hippeus came from the word "horse"; as those who were rich enough to buy a horse would flaunt their superiority by selecting names that began or ended with the word "hippos". However, Solon later changed the meaning of the
hippeus, as it became the second highest of the four social classes. It was composed of men who had at least 300
medimnoi or their equivalent as yearly income. The
Hippeus were also called the
Knights in
Aristotle's
Athenian Constitution (circa. 350 BC).
Aristotle gave an alternate characterization for the class of
Hippeus as 'those who were able to maintain a horse'. This assumption appears to be on the basis of the inscription of the statute of Diphilus.
Zeugitae The () were those whose property or estate could produce at least 200
medimnoi 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 yoked pair 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 one could serve as a hoplite if he had enough money to equip himself in that manner, i.e. he could produce 200
medimnoi 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 457/6 BC, they were granted the right to hold the
archonship, 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: • Council of 400 • Lower offices of state •
Ecclesia • In 457−456 BC, the archonship was opened to zeugitae
Thetes The (, sing. , 'serf') were the lowest social class of citizens. The were those who were workers for wages, or had less than 200
medimnoi (or their equivalent) as yearly income. (Thus, the
wage ratio of pentacosiomedimni to thetes could be as little as 2.5). This distinction spanned from some time earlier than 594−593 BC until 322 BC. The were defined as citizens who did not qualify as , although the may have predated the Solonian reforms. They could participate in the
Ecclesia (the Athenian assembly), and could be jurors serving in the
law court of the
Heliaia, but were not allowed to serve in the
Boule or serve as magistrates. In the reforms of
Ephialtes and
Pericles around 460450 BC, the thetes were empowered to hold public office. Twelve thousand thetes were disenfranchised and expelled from the city after the Athenian defeat in the
Lamian War. There is debate among scholars whether this represented the entire number of thetes, or simply those who left Athens, the remainder staying behind. Unlike the popular concept of
galley slaves, ancient navies generally preferred to rely on free men to row their galleys. In the 4th and 5th century, Athens generally followed a naval policy of enrolling citizens from the lower classes (the thetes),
metics and hired foreigners. However, under some conditions, for example during the
Mytilenean revolt, higher classes were enrolled as rowers also. This made them crucial in the Athenian Navy and therefore gave them a role in Athens' affairs. ==Details==