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It’s 427 BCE, and the worst internal 
conflict ever to occur

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in the ancient Greek world 
is in its fourth year.

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The Peloponnesian War is being fought

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between the city-states of Athens and
Sparta, as well as their allies.

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The Athenians can’t match the formidable 
Spartan army on land.

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So they’ve abandoned the countryside

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and moved inside the walls surrounding 
their city and port,

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now provisioned by a superior fleet 
and extensive maritime empire.

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The cramped conditions have taken a toll

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and a recent plague wiped out 
a third of the population.

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But city life goes on.

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Archias and Dexileia live 
in the center of Athens.

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As a painter of high-class pottery,

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Archias is relatively well off and takes 
great interest in the city’s affairs.

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Dexileia, on the other hand, can't
participate in politics or own property.

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The couple are grateful to the gods that 
three of their four children,

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a son and two daughters,

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have survived past infancy.

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Many parents see daughters as a liability

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since they require dowries 
to find husbands.

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But Archias is confident that his wealth

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will allow him to make good matches
for them without going bankrupt.

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Like many Athenians, 
the family owns slaves.

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Originally from Thrace,
they were captured in war.

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Thratta does most of the housework 
and helps raise the children.

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Philon is a paidagôgos,

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who supervises the son’s education, 
teaching him reading and writing.

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Archias is up early because there’s 
a meeting of the Ekklêsia,

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the assembly of citizens,

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taking place at dawn.

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Before setting out, he burns incense

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and pours a libation at the small shrine 
in the courtyard

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on behalf of his entire household.

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Dexileia will remain at home all day, 
teaching her daughters domestic skills.

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Later, she’ll retire to the inner 
courtyard for some fresh air.

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When Archias arrives at the Agora,

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the civic and commercial heart 
of the city,

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he finds the square swarming 
with his fellow-citizens,

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native-born adult males who 
have completed military training.

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Attached to the central monument is 
a noticeboard with the meeting’s agenda.

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Today, there’s only one item 
of discussion:

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what to do with the people of Mytilene,

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a city on the island of Lesbos

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where a revolt against Athenian-rule 
has just been put down.

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The meeting takes place on a hill west 
of the Acropolis known as the Pnyx.

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The word means “tightly packed,"

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and the crowd of 5,000 citizens 
makes it clear why.

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The heralds purify the hill by sprinkling 
its boundary with pig’s blood,

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and call for order.

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As everyone sits on benches 
facing the platform,

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the presiding officer opens the meeting 
with the words,

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“tis agoreuein bouleutai?”–

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“Who wishes to address the assembly?”

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One by one, citizens speak, some advising 
mercy, others bent on vengeance.

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A motion is proposed to execute 
all the Mytileneans

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and enslave their women and children

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because they betrayed their Athenian 
allies during a time of war.

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A majority raises their right hands 
in favor.

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Once the meeting’s over, Archias heads 
back to the Agora to buy food and wine.

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Hundreds have gathered there 
to discuss the results,

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many unhappy with the decision.

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When Archias returns home, 
he tells Dexileia about the debate.

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She thinks that killing the innocent 
as well as the guilty

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is harsh and counterproductive,

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and tells him as much.

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Around dusk Archias goes to 
a friend’s house for a symposium.

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The nine men drink wine and
discuss the meeting well into the night.

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Archias shares his wife’s opinion urging 
mercy, and his friends eventually agree.

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Before dawn something 
unprecedented happens.

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Heralds circulate throughout Athens

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announcing the Council 
has called another meeting.

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The second debate is equally heated,

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but a new resolution, 
to execute only the leaders of the revolt,

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narrowly passes.

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Yet there’s a problem –

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a ship with orders to carry out 
the first resolution

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was dispatched the previous day.

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And so another ship quickly sets sail 
to countermand the order –

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a race of democracy against time.