the territory of the administering state, was protected by a
"Truce of God" during the month of the festival, the commencement of
which was formally announced by heralds sent round to the different
states. Treaties of peace between different cities were often formally
commemorated by pillars there erected, and the general impression of the
scene suggested nothing but ideas of peace and brotherhood among Greeks.
And I may remark that the impression of the games as belonging to all
Greeks, and to none but Greeks, was stronger and clearer during the
interval between B.C. 600-300 than it came to be afterward. For the
Macedonian conquests had the effect of diluting and corrupting
Hellenism, by spreading an exterior varnish of Hellenic tastes and
manners over a wide area of incongruous foreigners who were incapable of
the real elevation of the Hellenic character; so that although in later
times the games continued undiminished both in attraction and in number
of visitors, the spirit of pan-Hellenic communion which had once
animated the scene was gone forever.

SOLON'S EARLY GREEK LEGISLATION

B.C. 594

GEORGE GROTE

Lycurgus, the reputed Spartan lawgiver, is credited with the
construction, about B.C. 800, of the earliest Grecian commonwealth
founded upon a specific code of laws. These laws had mainly a
military basis, and through obedience to them the Spartans became a
people of great hardiness, accustomed to self-discipline, famous
for their prowess and endurance in war, and for sternness of
individual and social virtues.

In Athens there were no written laws until the time of Draco, B.C.
621, the government before that period having been long in the
hands of an oligarchy. In the year above named Draco was archon,
and to him was intrusted the work of framing a legal code,
conditions under the oligarchic rule having become intolerable to
the people at large. The chief features of Draco's legislation had
reference to the punishment of crime, and so extreme were the
severities of the system and so cruel the penalties it prescribed
that in later times it was declared to have been written in blood.

The Draconian laws remained in force until superseded by the great
system of Solon, whose advent as the new lawgiver was brought about
mainly through the conspiracy of Cylon, twelve years after the
legislation of Draco.