Change in Athens
However, in post-war Athens, things were changing fast. The trauma of occupation, followed by the euphoria of victory, had transformed the city. Before the war, the foundations for democracy had been laid, but this was democracy in name only. In reality, only men with money had governed. Now a massive power shift was taking place.
The true cradle of democracy could be said to be an Athenian trireme. Each powered by nearly 200 oarsmen, these sea-borne battering rams had annihilated the Persian fleet at Salamis. At a time of crisis, it had been the poor of Athens who had squeezed down on to the cramped rowing benches and sent the triremes smashing into the hulls of their enemies.
These had been the have-nots of the city, the bottom of the political pecking order. But after Salamis, all that changed. The oarsmen who had endured the sweat, stench and terror of the triremes had won a historic victory and now they wanted their say. Athenian democracy was galvanised.
The first kid (other than Ross) who explains to me the relation between a Trireme and the formation of modern democracy - gets a Crow Point gift certificate. on me!
