Solon, Athenian lawgiver c.630-c.560 BC: born in Athens about 630 BC to a family of the merchant aristocracy.

He lived during a period of great economic and political turmoil. In 594 BC he was elected to the archonship, the chief office under the aristocratic Athenian system, a position held for one year.

In this office he championed fairness and justice, and acted as a mediator between the aristocracy and the poor, putting in place reforming principles which recognized all sectors of Athenian society. He ended the oppressive dominance of the aristocracy, and repealed the harsh laws of Draco.

He left Athens for a period of ten years, and although a revolution was to follow, the principles he put in place had an effect on the future shaping of Athenian society.

Renowned for his wisdom, he is ranked as one of the Seven Sages of the Ancient World. Expressing his wisdom in verse, he is said to have declared that there is but one thing that a man had to fear: that he would die before he became a philosopher.

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