Stasis (political history)

Stasis is a term in Greek political history. It refers to the constant feuds between aristocrats in archaic Greece, struggling about who is the best ("aristos" is Greek for "the best") both in terms of prestige and property. It led to various Civil wars and the establishment of Tyrannies in many cities of ancient Greece, most notably the Tyranny of Peisistratos in Athens.

The "Aristenein"-Ideal

According to the Iliad, it was the goal of all men of honour in archaic Greece to "always be the first and superior to the others" [Iliad 6,208] . This ideal was called the "Aristenein"- or "Aristie"-Ideal. In Homer's days, this ideal was mainly based on military virtues, such as bravery (e.g., leading armies in the front row). For decades, prestige, which was a requisite for might, originated from military virtues. This is told for the cases of both Solon and Peisistratos by Herodotus [1,60 [http://classics.mit.edu/Herodotus/history.1.i.html] ] and by Aristotle in the "Athenaion Politeia" [2.1 [http://www.constitution.org/ari/athen_02.htm] ] . In addition to that, success at the Olympic Games, especially in the field of Four-horse racing, was a peaceful way to gain prestige [Herodotus (5, 71 [http://classics.mit.edu/Herodotus/history.5.v.html] ) mentions this when introducing Kylon] .

The resulting Civil wars

Since ancient Athens before Solon didn't have a fixed state order or instruments of power that belonged only to the state, the aristocrats could compete violently for charges and property [Alcaeus writes about 600 BC: "Money is the man", while both Hesiod and Solon report about aristocrats ruthlessly trying to enlarge their wealth during the 7th century BC] . As a result, when the methods became more and more violent, aristocrats and their "oikoi" (families and followers) were engaged in civil wars against each other. In the Beginning of the 6th century, the situation worsened more and more [Plutarch: Solon, 13, see also "Athenaion Politeia": 5,1 [http://www.constitution.org/ari/athen_05.htm] ] , so that the aristocrats of Athens made Solon a lawmaker and arbitrator. The result were the Solonic Reforms. From then on, the term "tyrannos" (tyrant) became increasingly connoted with violence and lawless might, a development, which was fruitful only after the death of Solons successor Peisistratos.

The "stasis" under Peisistratos

After Solons retirement from Athenian politics, the struggle for might continued, because the Athenian society wasn't ready for a fixed state order yet [Schlange-Schöningen, p. 32] . Under Peisistratos' regime, the "stasis" continued, but only for charges under the tyrant, thus both securing him by appeasing the other aristocrats, and accustoming them to fixed charges given by a ruler, which paved the way for the reforms of Cleisthenes. Thus, aristocrats like Callias and Cimon had to struggle for prestige by winning in Olympia or showing off their wealth, not by becoming tyrants, while Miltiades the Elder emigrated from Athens and became head of a colony [Herodotus (6,34) [http://classics.mit.edu/Herodotus/history.6.vi.html] ] .

ources

* Heinrich Schlange-Schöningen: "Harmodius and Aristogeiton", in: Alexander Demandt (Ed.): "Das Attentat in der Geschichte", Augsburg 2002, p. 27-36

References