Draco

Draco (Gr. Drakōn), an Athenian lawgiver and archon, who, in the year 621 B.C., was appointed to draw up new laws for the disordered state. These, however, effected little change in the form of the state; but by being committed to writing, put an end to the arbitrary administration of justice on the part of the archons, and resulted in the establishment of a court of appeal—that of the Ephetae. Draco's legislation had a beneficial and permanent effect upon the political development of Athens. The extraordinary severity of these laws, however, which punished the slightest theft, or even laziness, with death, no less than sacrilege, murder, and treason, caused them to be often neglected, and made them so hated, that Solon was appointed to draw out a new code of laws (594). These were termed nomoi, as opposed to the thesmoi of Draco. Solon, though he softened their severity in most instances, retained that law which punished a murderer with death. Draco at a later period went to Ægina, where, after having introduced his laws, he is said to have been stifled in the theatre by the garments thrown upon him as a mark of respect by the people. The severity of his laws gave rise to a pun by Herodiceus, who declared that Draco's laws were those of a dragon (Gr. drakōn) and not of a man. Hence also originated the metaphorical remark of Demades, 'that they were written not in ink but in blood.' Extremely severe and sanguinary laws are still called Draconic.