Solon Net Worth

Solon was a prominent figure in Classical Athens, Greece, who is credited with laying the foundations for democracy in Athens. He was a social reformer who divided citizens into four income groups according to their annual income, which also determined their respective privileges in the political system. He also abolished bonded labor and slavery, and introduced new forms of livelihood such as olive oil export and new coinage. His poetry was used to spread his messages and warnings to the citizens. He was a member of an influential family and a merchant who travelled a lot in his early life. He is one of the 'Seven Wise Men' of Greece, who are remembered for their intellectual and political contributions to the nation.
Solon is a member of Political Leaders

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Laid the foundations for Democracy in Athens.
Birth Place Classical Athens, Greek
Died On c. 558 BC (aged 80)\nCyprus
Native name Σόλων
Occupation Statesman, lawmaker, poet

💰 Net worth

Solon, the esteemed figure recognized for laying the foundations for Democracy in Athens, is estimated to possess a net worth ranging from $100K - $1M in 2024. As a prominent statesman, lawmaker, and poet hailing from ancient Greece, Solon's contributions to the development of Athenian democracy have left an indelible mark on the history of governance. His reforms aimed to address various socioeconomic issues of his time, ensuring fairer redistribution of wealth and empowering the lower classes. Solon's influence on the democratic principles that have shaped societies throughout the ages is immeasurable, and his legacy continues to inspire seekers of justice and equality worldwide.

Famous Quotes:

Attic pleaders did not hesitate to attribute to him (Solon) any law which suited their case, and later writers had no criterion by which to distinguish earlier from later works. Nor can any complete and authentic collection of his statutes have survived for ancient scholars to consult.

Biography/Timeline

1940

Solon's economic reforms need to be understood in the context of the primitive, subsistence economy that prevailed both before and after his time. Most Athenians were still living in rural settlements right up to the Peloponnesian War. Opportunities for trade even within the Athenian borders were limited. The typical farming family, even in classical times, barely produced enough to satisfy its own needs. Opportunities for international trade were minimal. It has been estimated that, even in Roman times, goods rose 40% in value for every 100 miles they were carried over land, but only 1.3% for the same distance were they carried by ship and yet there is no evidence that Athens possessed any merchant ships until around 525 BC. Until then, the narrow warship doubled as a cargo vessel. Athens, like other Greek city states in the 7th Century BC, was faced with increasing population pressures and by about 525 BC it was able to feed itself only in 'good years'.

1962

Solon's laws were inscribed on large wooden slabs or cylinders attached to a series of axles that stood upright in the Prytaneion. These axones appear to have operated on the same principle as a Lazy Susan, allowing both convenient storage and ease of access. Originally the axones recorded laws enacted by Draco in the late 7th Century (traditionally 621 BC). Nothing of Draco's codification has survived except for a law relating to homicide, yet there is consensus among scholars that it did not amount to anything like a constitution. Solon repealed all Draco's laws except those relating to homicide. During his visit to Athens, Pausanias, the 2nd century AD geographer reported that the inscribed laws of Solon were still displayed by the Prytaneion. Fragments of the axones were still visible in Plutarch's time but today the only records we have of Solon's laws are fragmentary quotes and comments in literary sources such as those written by Plutarch himself. Moreover, the language of his laws was archaic even by the standards of the fifth century and this caused interpretation problems for ancient commentators. Modern scholars doubt the reliability of these sources and our knowledge of Solon's legislation is therefore actually very limited in its details.

2013

A century after Plutarch, Aelian also said that Peisistratos had been Solon's eromenos. Despite its persistence, however, it is not known whether the account is historical or fabricated. It has been suggested that the tradition presenting a peaceful and happy coexistence between Solon and Peisistratos was cultivated during the latter's dominion, in order to legitimize his own rule, as well as that of his sons. Whatever its source, later generations lent credence to the narrative. Solon's presumed pederastic Desire was thought in antiquity to have found expression also in his poetry, which is today represented only in a few surviving fragments. The authenticity of all the poetic fragments attributed to Solon is however uncertain – in particular, pederastic aphorisms ascribed by some ancient sources to Solon have been ascribed by other sources to Theognis instead.

2014

There is consensus among scholars that Solon lowered the requirements—those that existed in terms of financial and social qualifications—which applied to election to public office. The Solonian constitution divided citizens into four political classes defined according to assessable property a classification that might previously have served the state for military or taxation purposes only. The standard unit for this assessment was one medimnos (approximately 12 gallons) of cereals and yet the kind of classification set out below might be considered too simplistic to be historically accurate.

Some Solon images