Solon; the leader of Athens to Democracy

It is well known that Solon put the cornerstone of the Athenian Democracy. When did he do it that like many other cities in Greece, Athens was subject to the crisis and on the brink of civil war. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of Solon for saving Athens from the crisis and leading it to such a political system that after him named the Athenian Democracy. To investigate it, first it is necessary to have a review of situation of Solon’s era and then, an attention to his viewpoint so that how Athens could be saved from that crisis. A survey of his viewpoint shows his utilization of mythical heritage, although, he used this heritage in order of his era’s need for enacting legislation that he named the just law or the good law. He enacted this law for preservation of the limits of citizens as well as giving them a political role so that, unlike the former traditional system, they would enjoy of a political role and responsibility. The effect of this was the first cornerstone for Athens to arrive to its Democracy.