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Draco's Constitution — Draco (Athens)

~621 BC · Transmission: Global
LawLegalGreek

Athens's first written law code, drafted by lawgiver Draco, transfers justice from private family vengeance to state-monopolized courts. Famous for extreme severity — hence 'draconian' — its real milestone was legally distinguishing voluntary from involuntary homicide.

Historical regionAthens (Greece)
Primary sourceFragments cited in later sources; original text not preserved
Secondary sourceGagarin, M. — Early Greek Law (1986, University of California Press)
Original languageAncient Greek
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