e replaced the Pheidonian talent by that
of the Euboic coinage, thus increasing the debt-paying capacity of
money twenty-seven per cent, or, in other words, reduced the debt about
that amount. It was further provided that all debts could be paid in
three annual instalments, thus allowing poor farmers with mortgages
upon their farms an opportunity to pay their debts. There was also
granted an amnesty to all persons who had been condemned to payment of
money penalties. By further measures the exclusive privileges of the
old nobility were broken down, and a new government established on the
basis of wealth. People were divided into classes according to their
property, and their privileges in government, as well as their taxes,
were based upon these classes.

Revising the old council of 401, Solon established a council (Boule) of
400, 100 from each district. These were probably elected at first, but
later were chosen by lot. The duties of this council were to prepare
all business for passage in the popular assembly. No business could
come before the assembly of the people except by decree of the council,
and in nearly {236} every case the council could decide what measures
should be brought before the assembly. While in some instances the law
made it obligatory for certain cases to be brought before the assembly,
there were some measures which could be disposed of by the council
without reference to the assembly.

The administration of justice was distributed among the nine archons,
each one of whom administered some particular department. The archon
as judge could dispose of matters or refer them to an arbitrator for
decision. In every case the dissatisfied party had a right to appeal
to the court made up of a collective body of 6,000 citizens, called the
Heliaea. This body was annually chosen from the whole body of
citizens, and acted as jurors and judges. In civil matters the
services of the Heliaea were slight. They consisted in holding open
court on certain matters appealed to them from the archons. In
criminal matters the Heliaea frequently acted immediately as a sole
tribunal, whose decision was final.

It is one of the remarkable things in the Greek polity that the supreme
court or court of appeals should be elected from the common people,
while in other courts judges should hold their offices on account of
position. Solon also recognized what is known as the Council of the
Areopagus. The function