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The law courts in ancient Athens (4th and 5th centuries BC) were a fundamental organ of democratic governance. According to Aristotle, whoever controls the courts controls the state. These courts were jury courts and very large ones: the smallest possible had 200 members (+1 to avoid ties) and sometimes 500, 1000 or 1500. The annual pool of jurors, whose official name was Heliaia, comprised 6000 members. At least on one known occasion the whole six thousand sat together to judge a single case (a plenary session of the Heliaia). This was very different from Rome's laws, as in Rome, jury representatives were elected. The Athenian jurors were chosen randomly by lot, which meant that juries would consist, in theory, of a wide range of members from different social classes. Jurors were chosen on an annual basis, as were all other offices within the state (with the exception of the generals, known as strategoi). After the reforms of Solon in 594/3 BC, anyone from each of the four classes (the ''pentacosiomedimni, hippeis, zeugites'' and ''thetes'') could become a juror. This was meant to make the system much fairer to the poorer members of society, who had previously been excluded in favour of the elitist aristocrats. The archons who convened the courts had a purely administrative function and gave no legal direction or advice to the jurors: there was no judge but the jurors themselves. From the time of Pericles onwards, jury pay was introduced. This was two ''obols'' a day, which, despite not being a substantial amount of money, was enough to encourage even the poorest to become a juror.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Athenian Democracy )〕 This was later increased to three ''obols'' a day by Cleon.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title=Livius - Cleon )〕 The law courts in Athens were different and diverse: as time changed they changed too. They originated from the Council of the elite and wealthy who were in charge and ended up being open to any free male who was in the army. Athens valued justice and they had many different reforms as different challenges arose. The Athenian law court was large and decisions were made by majority. The courts could also exile those from society who were gaining too much power and could become tyrants. The laws of Athens also changed as the courts changed to work better with society. “The early Greeks were a litigious lot.”〔"Criminal Procedure in Ancient Athens and in the Trial of Socrates." Criminal Procedure in Ancient Athens and in the Trial of Socrates. Retrieved November 9, 2014.〕 ==Physical layout== One source says that the Athenian Courts were held in three different buildings. These three buildings were adjacent to one another and formed a triangle of open space. All three buildings were spacious which allowed for many people to observe the trial. The three buildings are referred to buildings A, B and C. “Law court A, roofed colonnade; Law court B, rectangular hall; and Law court C, a rectangular hall. Law courts A and B shared a wall and were across from Law Court C. Excavations of the area have found a ballot box near the Eastern part of building B, next to building A.”〔"Athens, Law Courts (Building)." Athens, Law Courts (Building). Perseus Digital Library, Retrieved November 8, 2014.〕 Other sources say that depending on the court its location would change. The courts were around the Agora sometimes and other times, like in a serious case against an official still in office, they were held on the Pnyx which was an open area on a hill. The courts were very large as there were many members of the jury so finding a single building to hold everyone was sometimes difficult. Different scholars say that there were different areas where the trials took place. The trials were diverse in their matters, public and private, and the courts were diverse in their makeups (number of jurors). Most of the trials took place in the main part of the city, the Agora, but some happened throughout the city and surrounding area. Many Athenians would attend trials and participate regardless of weather.〔McGregor, James H. "The Athenian Agora." Athens. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Belknap of Harvard UP, 2014. 89-91. Print. Retrieved November 9, 2014.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Law court (ancient Athens)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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