Plutarch's "Life of Solon" is an important source for both Solon and Pisistratos. For extra credit, read this abridged version of Plutarch's Life of Solon. What do you see here that makes Solon worth comparing to a legendary figure like Theseus?
Solon's story is worth telling, in my opinion, because of his impact on the city-State of Athens and its people. Interestingly enough, Solon, like Theseus, was able to defeat is his opposition, though they seemed to be more of the political and criminal justice sort, Solon was able to overcome; that is until he was done dealing with Athenian shenanigans, lead by Pisistratus, a "smooth talker and master of fraud..." He decided to stay home and write about Atlantis, which according to the reading, "finishing the story of Atlantis proved too great a task..." So, Solon decides to write bitter poetry instead. Like Theseus, Solon makes a difference, but instead of using strength and tenacity, he uses his wisdom, wit, and poetic charm to win the hearts of the Athenians.
Theseus and Solon both made contributions to Athens that changed the culture for a certain period of time. Solon was able to help the Athenians by reforming the laws from the previous laws of Dracon. Solon was the forerunner to the modern-day democracy. He established a supreme court, freed all of the Athenian slaves and established the council of 400. Theseus was known as the founder of Athens. He took Attica and united the city-state of Athens. Both of their fates didn’t end well, Theseus was exiled and assassinated and Solon lost his life’s work by revolutionary tyrants. Mitch Buller
Solon's story is worth telling, in my opinion, because of his impact on the city-State of Athens and its people. Interestingly enough, Solon, like Theseus, was able to defeat is his opposition, though they seemed to be more of the political and criminal justice sort, Solon was able to overcome; that is until he was done dealing with Athenian shenanigans, lead by Pisistratus, a "smooth talker and master of fraud..." He decided to stay home and write about Atlantis, which according to the reading, "finishing the story of Atlantis proved too great a task..." So, Solon decides to write bitter poetry instead. Like Theseus, Solon makes a difference, but instead of using strength and tenacity, he uses his wisdom, wit, and poetic charm to win the hearts of the Athenians.
ReplyDelete-Jonathon Fargher
Theseus and Solon both made contributions to Athens that changed the culture for a certain period of time. Solon was able to help the Athenians by reforming the laws from the previous laws of Dracon. Solon was the forerunner to the modern-day democracy. He established a supreme court, freed all of the Athenian slaves and established the council of 400. Theseus was known as the founder of Athens. He took Attica and united the city-state of Athens. Both of their fates didn’t end well, Theseus was exiled and assassinated and Solon lost his life’s work by revolutionary tyrants.
ReplyDeleteMitch Buller