Ephialtes and the Areopagus
c. 461 BCEAthens
about 2,486 years ago
In the late 460s BCE the Athenian politician Ephialtes oversaw reforms that cut the power of the Areopagus, a traditional bastion of conservatism.
was an ancient Athenian politician and an early leader of the democratic movement there
In the late 460s BC, he oversaw reforms that diminished the power of the Areopagus, a traditional bastion of conservatism
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
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Before the reforms
Ephialtes first appears in 465 BCE as the commander of an Athenian fleet in the Aegean.
Ephialtes first appears in the historical record as the strategos commanding an Athenian fleet in the Aegean Sea in 465 BC.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
In 463 BCE he argued against helping Sparta against a helot revolt; Cimon won the debate and led 4,000 hoplites to Sparta.
When the Spartans failed to remove the rebel helots from their base on Mount Ithome, in Messenia, they called for help
In August 463 BC, Ephialtes represented those who wished to refuse Sparta's request for military assistance.
Cimon was victorious in the debate, and set out for Sparta with 4,000 hoplites.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
The Spartans turned the Athenians away, and Cimon was ostracized for his misjudgment.
However, shortly after the Athenians arrived to help the Spartans, their assistance was turned down. Subsequently, harmony between Sparta and Athens was broken and Cimon was ostracized for his misjudgment.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
The reforms
From about 461 BCE, Ephialtes and his allies attacked the Areopagus, a council of former archons.
In about 461 BCE, Ephialtes and his political allies began attacking the Areopagus, a council composed of former archons which was a traditionally conservative force.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
He weakened its prestige by prosecuting some of its members for maladministration.
Ephialtes accelerated this process by prosecuting certain members for maladministration.
Having thus weakened the prestige of the council
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
The assembly passed his reforms, which divided the council's powers among the Boule, the assembly itself and the popular courts.
Ephialtes proposed and had passed in the popular assembly, a sweeping series of reforms which divided up the powers traditionally wielded by the Areopagus among the democratic council of the Boule, the ekklesia itself, and the popular courts.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
Which further powers it lost is not specified; scholars have read the reforms as moving control of offices like the dokimasia and euthynai to other bodies.
It remains unknown what additional powers were taken away because it is not specified, but scholars have interpreted the reforms to have transferred the control of public offices such as the dokimasia and euthynai to other bodies.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
The Areopagus was left as a high court for murder charges and some religious matters.
The Areopagus remained merely a high court, in control of judging charges of murder and some religious matters.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
Many modern historians see the reforms as the start of the radical democracy Athens became famous for.
which are considered by many modern historians to mark the beginning of the radical democracy for which Athens would become famous
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
His death
He was assassinated in 461 BCE; who killed him is uncertain, but his oligarch opponents are thought likely to be behind it.
In 461 BCE, he was assassinated. Although it remains uncertain who exactly killed him, it is believed to likely be at the instigation of his oligarch opponents.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
Leadership of Athens passed to his deputy, Pericles.
In the wake of his death, the political leadership of Athens passed to his deputy, Pericles.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
Aristotle named Aristodikos of Tanagra as the killer. Antiphon, the earliest source, wrote in 420 BCE that the killer was unknown.
Aristotle, writing c. 325 BCE in his Constitution of the Athenians (25.4) states that Aristodikos of Tanagra was the culprit.
The earliest source we have on Ephialtes himself and his death is Antiphon (5.68), writing in 420 BC, who states that the identity of the murderer was unknown.
From Wikipedia, Ephialtes (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-06-21.
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