Election Athenian democracy

bust of pericles, marble roman copy after greek original c. 430 bc

during athenian election, approximately 1 hundred officials out of thousand elected rather chosen lot. there 2 main categories in group: required handle large sums of money, , 10 generals, strategoi. 1 reason financial officials elected money embezzled recovered estates; election in general favoured rich, in case wealth virtually prerequisite.

generals elected not because role required expert knowledge because needed people experience , contacts in wider greek world wars fought. in 5th century bc, principally seen through figure of pericles, generals among powerful people in pols. yet in case of pericles, wrong see power coming long series of annual generalships (each year along 9 others). office holding rather expression , result of influence wielded. influence based on relation assembly, relation in first instance lay in right of citizen stand , speak before people. under 4th century version of democracy roles of general , of key political speaker in assembly tended filled different persons. in part consequence of increasingly specialized forms of warfare practiced in later period.

elected officials subject review before holding office , scrutiny after office. , removed office @ time assembly met. there death penalty inadequate performance while in office.