I) You decide to head into the Agora of Athens, the market place. People move back and forth, carrying grain, olives, grapes, and jugs of wine. You pass many tent shops, with merchants shouting out the items they have for sale. Coins change hands and profits are made. A fisherman clips a squid and an octopus to a line to dry in the sun. These two sea creatures were a tasty delicacy in ancient Greece. As you stroll through the Agora, you see a large group of men standing in a circle. The men are discussing whether or not they should ostracize, or banish, another citizen from the city-state of Athens. "What did this man do?” you ask a citizen nearby. "This man was a trusted soldier, until he told the Persians of our battle plans.” the man answers. The citizens, all of whom are men, cast their vote for or against by writing their decision on a piece of pottery and placing it into a large basket. The votes are counted and the soldier is banished from Athens. Two hoplites, or foot soldiers, escort the man to the city limits in disgrace. "You just witnessed Athenian democracy at work", the citizen declares. Democracy was something new in your world. All citizens in Athens could vote and make decisions in government. However, only men were allowed to be citizens. Across the way, group of three men carry something heavy in a bag. They look a little nervous, and quickly move through the Agora.
Do you?
copyright Jay D'Ambrosio 1998