e state.
In B.C. 683 a still more important change took place. The archonship
was now made annual, and its duties were distributed among nine
persons, all of whom bore the title. The last of the decennial archons
was Eryxias, the first of the nine annual archons Creon.

Such is the legendary account of the change of government at Athens,
from royalty to an oligarchy. It appears to have taken place peaceably
and gradually, as in most other Greek states. The whole political power
was vested in the nobles; from them the nine annual archons were taken,
and to them alone these magistrates were responsible. The people, or
general body of freemen, had no share in the government.

The Athenian nobles were called EUPATRIDAE, the two other classes in
the state being the GEOMORI or husbandmen, and DEMIURGI or artisans.
This arrangement is ascribed to Theseus; but there was another division
of the people of still greater antiquity. As the Dorians were divided
into three tribes, so the Ionians were usually distributed into four
tribes. The latter division also existed among the Athenians, who were
Ionians, and it continued in full vigour down to the great revolution
of Clisthenes (B.C. 509). These tribes were distinguished by the names
of GELEONTES (or TELEONTES) "cultivators," HOPLETES "warriors,"
AEGICORES "goat-herds," and ARGADES "artisans." Each tribe contained
three Phratriae, each Phratry thirty Gentes, and each Gens thirty heads
of families.

The first date in Athenian history on which certain reliance can be
placed is the institution of annual archons, in the year 683 B.C. The
duties of the government were distributed among the nine archons in the
following manner. The first was called THE ARCHON by way of
pre-eminence, and sometimes the Archon Eponymus, because the year was
distinguished by his name. The second archon was called THE BASILEUS
or THE KING, because he represented the king in his capacity as
high-priest of the nation. The third archon bore the title of THE
POLEMARCH, or Commander-in-chief and was, down to the time of
Clisthenes, the commander of the troops. The remaining six had the
common title of THESMOTHETAE, or Legislators. Their duties seem to
have been almost exclusively judicial.

The government of the Eupatrids was oppressive; and the discontent of
the people at length became so serious, that Draco was appointed in 624
B.C. to draw up a written code of laws. They were marked by extrem