tors from their existing distress. He cancelled all contracts by
which the land or person of a debtor had been given as security; and he
forbad for the future all loans in which the person of the debtor was
pledged. He next proceeded to draw up a new constitution and a new
code of laws. As a preliminary step he repealed all the laws of Draco,
except those relating to murder. He then made a new classification of
the citizens, distributing them into four classes according to the
amount of their property, thus making wealth and not birth the title to
the honours and offices of the state. The first class consisted of
those whose annual income was equal to 500 medimni of corn and upwards,
and were called PENTACOSIOMEDIMNI. [The medimnus was one bushel and a
half.] The second class consisted of those whose incomes ranged
between 300 and 500 medimni and were called KNIGHTS, from their being
able to furnish a war-horse. The third class consisted of those who
received between 200 and 300 medimni, and were called ZEUGITAE from
their being able to keep a yoke of oxen for the plough. The fourth
class, called THETES, included all whose property fell short of 200
medimni. The first class were alone eligible to the archonship and the
higher offices of the state. The second and third classes filled
inferior posts, and were liable to military service, the former as
horsemen, and the latter as heavy-armed soldiers on foot. The fourth
class were excluded from all public offices, and served in the army
only as light-armed troops. Solon, however, allowed them to veto in
the public assembly, where they must have constituted by far the
largest number. He gave the assembly the right of electing the archons
and the other officers of the state; and he also made the archons
accountable to the assembly at the expiration of their year of office.

This extension of the duties of the public assembly led to the
institution of a new body. Solon created the Senate, or Council of
Four Hundred with the special object of preparing all matters for the
discussion of the public assembly, of presiding at its meetings, and of
carrying its resolutions into effect. No subject could be introduced
before the people, except by a previous resolution of the Senate. The
members of the Senate were elected by the public assembly, one hundred
from each of the four ancient tribes, which were left untouched by
Solon. They held their office for a year, and