Humanitext Reader

Thucydides · History of the Peloponnesian War §2.37.1-2.37.3

Athenian Democracy and Freedom of Daily Life

Passage 183 of 917 · Greek

Summary

Explains the characteristics of the Athenian democracy, emphasizing equality under the law and meritocracy. It also praises their way of life, where citizens enjoy personal freedom and tolerance in private while showing deep respect and obedience to both laws and unwritten moral codes in public.

§2.37.1‘χρώμεθα γὰρ πολιτείᾳ οὐ ζηλούσῃ τοὺς τῶν πέλας νόμους, παράδειγμα δὲ μᾶλλον αὐτοὶ ὄντες τισὶν ἢ μιμούμενοι ἑτέρους.
‘For we use a constitution that does not copy the laws of our neighbors, but we are rather ourselves a pattern to some than imitators of others.
καὶ ὄνομα μὲν διὰ τὸ μὴ ἐς ὀλίγους ἀλλ’ ἐς πλείονας οἰκεῖν δημοκρατία κέκληται· μέτεστι δὲ κατὰ μὲν τοὺς νόμους πρὸς τὰ ἴδια διάφορα πᾶσι τὸ ἴσον, κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἀξίωσιν, ὡς ἕκαστος ἔν τῳ εὐδοκιμεῖ, οὐκ ἀπὸ μέρους τὸ πλέον ἐς τὰ κοινὰ ἢ ἀπ’ ἀρετῆς προτιμᾶται, οὐδ’ αὖ κατὰ πενίαν, ἔχων γέ τι ἀγαθὸν δρᾶσαι τὴν πόλιν, ἀξιώματος ἀφανείᾳ κεκώλυται.
And by name, because its administration is not for the few but for the many, it is called a democracy; but while as regards private disputes, equality is granted to all in accordance with the laws, yet as regards social standing, according as each is distinguished in any field, he is preferred for public service not from rotation but for merit; nor again is any man, though able to do some good for the city, prevented by the obscurity of his rank.
§2.37.2ἐλευθέρως δὲ τά τε πρὸς τὸ κοινὸν πολιτεύομεν καὶ ἐς τὴν πρὸς ἀλλήλους τῶν καθ᾽ ἡμέραν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ὑποψίαν, οὐ δι’ ὀργῆς τὸν πέλας, εἰ καθ’ ἡδονήν τι δρᾷ, ἔχοντες, οὐδὲ ἀζημίους μέν, λυπηρὰς δὲ τῇ ὄψει ἀχθηδόνας προστιθέμενοι.
And we live as free citizens both in our public affairs and in our freedom from mutual suspicion regarding our daily pursuits, not being angry with our neighbor if he acts according to his pleasure, nor casting sour looks which, though they inflict no positive penalty, are yet painful to see.
§2.37.3ἀνεπαχθῶς δὲ τὰ ἴδια προσομιλοῦντες τὰ δημόσια διὰ δέος μάλιστα οὐ παρανομοῦμεν, τῶν τε αἰεὶ ἐν ἀρχῇ ὄντων ἀκροάσει καὶ τῶν νόμων, καὶ μάλιστα αὐτῶν ὅσοι τε ἐπ’ ὠφελίᾳ τῶν ἀδικουμένων κεῖνται καὶ ὅσοι ἄγραφοι ὄντες αἰσχύνην ὁμολογουμένην φέρουσιν.
While we associate with one another in private without unpleasantness, we do not transgress in public affairs, mainly through a feeling of awe, through obedience to those who are in authority from time to time and to the laws, and especially to those laws which are established for the benefit of the injured and those which, though unwritten, bring acknowledged disgrace.

Notes

  1. §2.37.1διὰ τὸ μὴ ἐς ὀλίγους ἀλλ’ ἐς πλείονας οἰκεῖν — A causal clause consisting of the preposition διὰ and the articular infinitive τὸ οἰκεῖν. The intransitive verb οἰκεῖν is used here in the sense of 'to be administered, to function' (of a state or constitution), governing the prepositional phrases ἐς ὀλίγους and ἐς πλείονας. While it can be interpreted as 'in the hands of the few rather than the many', the context of democratic equality suggests the meaning 'for the benefit of the many rather than the few.'
  2. §2.37.1οὐκ ἀπὸ μέρους τὸ πλέον ἐς τὰ κοινὰ ἢ ἀπ’ ἀρετῆς προτιμᾶται — The contrast is drawn between οὐκ ἀπὸ μέρους (not by rotation or class) and ἢ ἀπ’ ἀρετῆς (but by merit). The word μέρος can mean 'a part, class, party' or 'a turn or rotation (in office)'. In contrast to the Athenian system of selecting many officials by lot (rotation), the text asserts that for important public affairs (ἐς τὰ κοινὰ), individuals are preferred (προτιμᾶται) based on personal merit (ἀρετή) rather than class or rotation.
  3. §2.37.2οὐδὲ ἀζημίους μέν, λυπηρὰς δὲ τῇ ὄψει ἀχθηδόνας προστιθέμενοι — Here, ἀζημίους (harmless, without legal penalty) and λυπηρὰς δὲ τῇ ὄψει (but painful to see) modify ἀχθηδόνας (annoyances, vexations). The participle προστιθέμενοι means 'imposing' or 'inflicting.' The phrase τῇ ὄψει can be interpreted as 'to the sight (of others)' or 'in appearance (with sour looks).' In either case, it refers to making others feel uncomfortable by showing one's disapproval through facial expressions or attitudes, despite there being no actual legal penalty.
  4. §2.37.3τῶν τε αἰεὶ ἐν ἀρχῇ ὄντων ἀκροάσει καὶ τῶν νόμων — The verbal noun ἀκρόασις (hearing, obedience) governs two genitives: 'those who are in authority from time to time' (τῶν αἰεὶ ἐν ἀρχῇ ὄντων) and 'the laws' (τῶν νόμων). The adverb αἰεί ('always'), placed before the participle, here has the distributive sense of 'from time to time' or 'for the time being,' referring to the rotating magistrates of the Athenian democracy.

Cite this passage

Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War §2.37.1-2.37.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.humanitext-grc2:2.37.1-2.37.3

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