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Image: Athen Stoa Ostrakismos 2

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Description: These ostraka from 482 BC were recovered from a well near the Acropolis. The ostraca in the upper row read "THEMISTHOKLES PHREARIOS" (Themistocles from Phreari), while the others read "THEMISTHOKLES NEOKLEOS" (Themistocles son of Neocles). The Athenians had a particular voting technique to remove a citizen from the community: Every voting citizen would scratch the name of the person to be exiled into a piece of pottery and hand it in to be counted. For some votes thousands of named pottery pieces have been found. If ostracized, the person was exiled for ten years, and after that time could return and have their property restored. After his ostracism, Themistocles defected to Persia and was made governor of Magnesia.
Title: Athen Stoa Ostrakismos 2
Credit: Self-photographed by Xocolatl, 3 March 2008
Author: Unknown authorUnknown author
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No

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