Ephialtes of Athens
Ephialtes of Athens was a significant yet enigmatic figure in ancient Athenian politics, active during the mid-5th century BCE. He is best known for his role in reforming the power structure of the Athenian government, particularly by transferring judicial authority from the aristocratic Areopagus to the more democratized popular courts. This shift, which occurred around 462/461 BCE, was seen as a substantial move to diminish the influence of the aristocracy in favor of greater citizen participation in governance. Ephialtes was allied with the prominent leader Pericles and capitalized on a political vacuum created by the absence of conservative politician Cimon.
Despite his reforms, Ephialtes' efforts to confront corruption and challenge elite dominance led to a climate of political violence, culminating in his assassination, although the circumstances surrounding his death remain debated among scholars. His legacy is complex, with questions about the extent of his independence and the motivations behind his reforms still under examination. Ephialtes was honored posthumously, being interred among Athens' heroes, indicating a recognition of his contributions despite the controversies that surrounded his life and political actions.
Ephialtes of Athens
Related civilization: Classical Greece
Major role/position: Politician
Life
Ephialtes of Athens (ehf-ee-AL-teez) remains obscure and controversial. Surviving ancient sources are fragmentary, providing only a bare outline. Ephialtes exercised a naval command in 465/464 b.c.e. In 462/461 b.c.e., as a partisan of Pericles, Ephialtes took advantage of the absence of the conservative politician Cimon (then attempting to lend military support to Sparta against an insurrection of helots, or state-owned serfs) in order to “break the aristocracy” by transferring jurisdiction over public magistrates from the Areopagus to the popular courts. No longer would popular politicians have to appear before the aristocrats who dominated the Areopagus. Aristocrats themselves, moreover, would (when accused of bribery or malfeasance) now appear before juries dominated by common citizens. Ephialtes, exceptional in his immunity to bribery, was himself remorseless in his attacks on corrupt officials. The resulting atmosphere of political terror led to nocturnal assassination. Ephialtes was entombed among Athens’ other heroes at the city’s expense.
Influence
Modern scholars question every aspect of this historical tradition. Did Ephialtes act independently or on behalf of Pericles? Was the reform of the Areopagus in 462/461 b.c.e. as constitutionally significant as the ancient sources claim? Was Ephialtes assassinated or did he die naturally? Was Pericles implicated in the murder? The case remains open.
Bibliography
Mueller, H. F. “Ephialtes Accusator: A Case Study in Anecdotal History and Ideology.” Athenaeum 87 (1999): 425-445.
Wallace, R. W. The Areopagus Council to 307 b.c. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1989.