Heliaia

The Heliaia was a court by the bouleuterion near the agora of Athens in Attika, Greece.
Attended by the judges called heliasts, who were randomly chosen from among the citizens of Athens, the Heliaia served as the most important courtroom within the polis.[1]
Magistrates oversaw the trials, with a jury composed of heliasts. Any citizen of Athens could be the accuser, and in the case their accusation was deemed valid, received a portion of the defendant's fine. However, if the jurors found the accusation unfounded, the accuser themself risked a conviction.[2]
Likely the best known trial in the history of Athens is that of Sokrates in 399 BCE. Accused of impiety and corruption of the youth, he was found guilty, and the verdict was execution by hemlock.[3]
Gallery[edit | edit source]
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A view of the interior
Appearances[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – The Agora of Athens: "Heliaia"
- ↑ Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – Attika: Trials
- ↑ Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece – The Agora of Athens: "Judicial Court"