Image: Ostraka for Ostracism, 5th century BC, Museum of the Ancient Agora, Athens, Greece (13896440260)
Description: Ostracism was a procedure under the Athenian democracy in which any citizen could be expelled from the city-state of Athens for ten years. While some instances clearly expressed popular anger at the citizen, ostracism was often used preemptively. It was used as a way of neutralizing someone thought to be a threat to the state or potential tyrant. Crucially, ostracism had no relation to the processes of justice. There was no charge or defense, and the exile was not in fact a penalty; it was simply a command from the Athenian people that one of their number be gone for ten years.
Title: Ostraka for Ostracism, 5th century BC, Museum of the Ancient Agora, Athens, Greece (13896440260)
Credit: Ostraka for Ostracism, 5th century BC, Museum of the Ancient Agora, Athens, Greece
Author: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Attribution Required?: Yes
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