Draco

Draco was the first legislator of Athens in Ancient Greece according to Athenian tradition and was active about 625 to 600 BC. He replaced the system of oral law and blood feud by the Draconian constitution, a written code to be enforced only by a court of law. His laws were supposed to have been very harsh, establishing the death penalty for most offenses. Tradition held that all of his laws were repealed by Solon, save for those on homicide. An inscription from 409/8 BC contains part of the current law and refers to it as "the law of Draco about homicide". Nothing is known about the specifics of other laws established by Draco.

Occupation

legislator

Position held

eponymous archon

Citizenship

Classical Athens

Born

650 BC

Died

600 BC