Ostracism

Ostracism, a right exercised by the people of Athens of banishing for a time any person whose services, rank, or wealth appeared to be dangerous to the liberty of his fellow-citizens, or inconsistent with their political equality. It was not a punishment for any particular crime, but rather a precautionary measure to remove such leaders as were obviously exercising a dangerous ascendancy in the state. Ostracism was introduced by Cleisthenes about the beginning of the 6th century B.C., after the expulsion of the Pisistratide. The people were annually asked by the Prytanes if they wished to exercise this right, and if they did a public assembly (ecclesia) was held, and each citizen had opportunity of depositing, in a place appointed for the purpose, a potsherd (ostrakon, also 'oyster-shell') or small earthen tablet, on which was written the name of the person for whose banishment he voted. Six thousand votes were necessary for the banishment of any person; but the greatest men of Athens—Miltiades, Themistocles, Aristides, Cimon, and Alcibiades—were subjected to this treatment. The banishment was at first for ten years, but the period was afterwards restricted to five. Property and civil rights or honours remained unaffected by it. Alcibiades succeeded in obtaining the final abolition of ostracism, of which, however, Plutarch and Aristotle speak as a necessary political expedient, and its utility has been very ably defended in modern times by Grote (History of Greece, vol. iv.).