Democracy
A system of government in which power is held by the people, invented in Athens around 508 BCE and derived from the Greek demos (people) and kratos (power or rule)
The Meaning of Democracy
Democracy derives from the Greek demokratia, combining demos (the people) and kratos (power or rule). The Athenian democracy was established around 508 BCE through the reforms of Cleisthenes, who reorganised Athenian society into ten tribes based on residence rather than kinship, breaking the power of the old aristocratic clans. The system evolved over the following century into its mature form: all male citizens over eighteen could attend the Assembly (Ekklesia) and vote directly on laws, declarations of war, and treaties. The Council of Five Hundred (Boule), selected by lot, prepared the Assembly's agenda. Most officials were chosen by lottery rather than election, on the principle that elections favoured the wealthy and well-known while the lot gave every citizen an equal chance to serve. The system was radical by any historical standard — roughly thirty thousand male citizens directly governed a city-state of approximately three hundred thousand people. Critics, including Plato and Aristotle, warned that democracy could degenerate into mob rule. The word "democracy" entered English through French and Latin and became the most contested and valued political concept in the modern world.
Parents
None recorded
Symbols
Fun Fact
Most Athenian officials were chosen by lottery rather than election — the Greeks considered random selection more democratic because elections favoured the rich and famous
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth. See our full guide to English words from Greek mythology.
Explore Further
Plutocracy
💭 conceptPolitical science and language
A form of government in which the wealthy hold power, derived from Ploutos, the Greek god of wealth, combined with kratos, meaning rule or power
Tyranny
💭 conceptPolitical science and Athens
A form of government ruled by a single individual who seized power unconstitutionally, derived from the Greek tyrannos, which originally carried no negative connotation
Ekklesia
💭 conceptpolitics, institutions
The assembly of all male citizens in the Athenian democracy — the sovereign decision-making body that met regularly on the Pnyx hill.
Ostracism
💭 conceptdemocracy, exile
The Athenian democratic practice of banishing citizens for ten years by popular vote, using pottery shards as ballots to prevent tyranny.
Hēgemonia
💭 conceptpolitics, history
Leadership, supremacy, or the dominant position of one state over others — the claim to lead a voluntary alliance that could easily become imperial control.
Homonoia
💭 conceptpolitics, philosophy
Concord or like-mindedness — the civic ideal of citizens sharing common purposes and values, the condition necessary for a functioning community.
Phratry
💭 conceptkinship, society
A hereditary kinship group forming the basic social unit of Greek civic life, where membership was required for citizenship and participation in religious rites.
Warrior Ethos
💭 conceptEthics
The martial value system that prized courage, skill, and glorious death in ancient Greek society
Golden Age
💭 conceptLanguage and history
A proverbial expression for a past period of peace, prosperity, and happiness, derived from Hesiod's account of the first and best age of humanity under the rule of Kronos
Athenian Kings
💭 conceptDynasty, Athens
The legendary succession of early rulers of Athens from the earth-born Cecrops to the hero-king Theseus
Ostracism
💭 conceptPolitical science and Athens
An English word meaning social exclusion, derived from the Athenian practice of banishing citizens by popular vote using pottery shards called ostraka
Enantiodromia
💭 conceptphilosophy
The tendency of extremes to reverse into their opposites — the principle that things carried to their limit swing back toward what they denied.