Solon

Solon was a prominent Athenian statesman, lawmaker, and poet who lived in the 6th century BCE. He is credited with reforming the social and political structure of Athens and laying the foundations for Athenian democracy. He abolished debt slavery, redistributed land among the citizens, created a new constitution based on four classes of wealth, and established a council of 400 to prepare matters for the assembly. He also introduced a system of popular courts where citizens could appeal against the decisions of magistrates. Solon's laws were inscribed on wooden tablets and displayed in the agora, the public square of Athens. Solon also wrote poetry for pleasure, propaganda, and defense of his reforms. His poems deal with various topics such as morality, politics, history, and mythology. He is regarded as one of the Seven Wise Men of Greece, a group of sages who were renowned for their wisdom and achievements. Solon traveled widely in his later years, visiting Egypt, Lydia, and Cyprus. He died in Cyprus around 560 BCE. His legacy was admired by later generations of Greeks, especially the Athenians who considered him as the founder of their democracy.