Ekklesia: Prime among all others. Has power over taxation and all reserve powers. Reviews the performance of each office at the end of their term.
Major Offices
Xenoparakletor: Split off from the Prooboulos, an elected position. Responsible for foreign affairs, especially dealings with allies and the Epulian League. The Xenoparakletor signs treaties. Election in a four year cycle.
Proboulos: An executive officer in charge of the boule, a council that organizes the city's finances, makes domestic policy decisions subject to the approval of the ekklesia, and maintains the social order. Maintains the citizen rolls and holds other magistrates accountable. Can be dismissed by a supermajority of citizens. Election in a four year cycle.
Strategos: An elected position, responsible for the city's military in times of war. There is one main strategos, two subordinates, and seven deputies. Outside of warfare there are three senior strategoi and seven junior ones, elected by the people. Election in times of war.
Metic Assembly: An important body that advocates on the behalf of metics and their rights and privileges. Called once every eight years as of the reforms of 346 OL. In the intervening time an Eretrian citizen serves as their main representative, bringing metic issues to the ekklesia outside of the standard schedule of the assembly.
Minor Offices
Agronomos: Manages and controls the Eretrian marketplace and administers any trade going in or out of the city. Arbitrates trade disputes that are not of a legal nature. Sortition.
Assembly of the Mint: Controls the city's money supply and creates coinage. Manages the city's weights and measure system. Important for symbolic reasons and economic ones. Sortition with the leader appointed by the boule and held accountable by the assembly of the mint.
Chief of Public Lands: Council that controls the city's publicly owned lands which are worked on by tenants or serfs. Sortition.
Popular Tribunal: Creates new laws to be voted on by the ekklesia and administers the boundaries of citizenship set by the boule. Also controls jury selection. Sortition.
Grand Mantis: Organizes Eretria's feasts and festivals as well as major ceremonies, responsible for administering the city's temples, especially that of the divine marriage. Volunteers chosen by lot among the wise and pious above the age of 30 and serve for four years. Sortition.
Elder Ekdromos: Leader of the city's famed best men, a military order of 500 Eretrian men of military age who have proven their worth in a competition to be the most fit and most virtuous citizens of the city. The leader of the Ekdromoi is chosen by lot and is always from among the eldest and wisest members of the battalion. Responsible for leading the ekdromoi in war and admitting new members to the band subject to the supervision of the Grand Mantis and proboulos. Sortition.
Assembly of the Mint: Controls the city's money supply and creates coinage. Manages the city's weights and measure system. Important for symbolic reasons and economic ones. Sortition with the leader appointed by the boule and held accountable by the assembly of the mint.
While I still slightly prefer the Antipatrid slate for Proboulos, the change in mechanics means I'm a bit more comfortable working on our Italiote and Sikelian diplomacy since we can still do the pirate-hunting and naval station on Lissa.
Exoria will probably get my vote next time, since we'll be in a position to work on tying our League and vassals more tightly to us once we've allayed Italiote concerns enough that they won't see our increased power as necessitating intervention. And then, once the Dauni and Messapii are firmly tied to us the same as the Peuketii are, and we have a proper water and sewer system in our city, we can finally get on with the business of establishing our supremacy over the Adriatic.
This Greek wine cup from the 5th century B.C. offers one of the earliest depictions of voting in art. As the Trojan War rages, Greek chieftains are forced to choose between the competing claims of heroes Ajax and Odysseus to a momentous prize, the armor of the fallen warrior Achilles. So they do what comes naturally to the fathers of democracy. They vote.
The small dots on either side of the pedestal in the detail shown above represent stones heaped in two mounds for Odysseus and Ajax. The number of pebbles on Ajax's side, at right, falls short of the more politically savvy Odysseus's by one, causing Ajax to grasp his head in despair. This loss is the backstory for the tragic scene portrayed inside the cup, where we see Ajax fallen in agony on his sword.
"My friends, I find myself in a difficult position. When I look upon the platform of the Demos Drakonia, I see one that is finely put together, all aspects of policy weaving together in sublime simplicity. Their focus on colonization is truly inspired, and I feel, revolutionary. Having the common support of the Epulian League raises the number of Hoplites we can field by a full quarter. They acquitted themselves well and were essential in the humbling of the Tarantines.
"Further, this new focus on colonization addresses and supports the needs of our fair city in two other ways. Aside from the manpower given indirectly by our League, colonization gives us something of a release valve for all of the landless poor who find themselves inhabiting our city. With new cities to found, those distant sons whom have to contend with the fact their patrimony is too small to be divided again, now have new options. Before, they could come to the city and be among the Aktimonies, perhaps hoping for a disbursment of land, or an empty plot. Given there is now so little land left unclaimed, that is a faint hope; their idealistic childhood was lost to them. With a new colony, they can carve out their own homestead and pass that land on as the legacy of their sons and grandsons.
"Lastly, new colonies and new cities means new trade goods. They will be markets for the anchovies, wines, and olive oils grown here in Eritria, but they will also make products of their own. Perhaps even some as fantastic as our sea silk or Ankon's rare purple murax dye. Regardless of the direction that trade flows — from here to the colonies, or from the colonies to Greater Hellas — we here in Eritria benefit. Trade flows into the city's coffers grows due to wisely placed tariffs and transit fees.
"For all of these reasons, I would happily cast my ballot to the Drakonids. But... I will not. Within their sublime plan, a cancer grows at the heart of the Drakonid plan. They plan to intervene in the stasis consuming Kerkyra, to support the Demokrats against the Oligarchs.
"It is likely that our intervention could push the levers sufficiently that the Demokrats emerge victorious, but it is not assured. Kerkyra may see foreign sails landing on her shores and see invaders. Who here does not recall the stories of our fathers and grandfathers, when Kerkyra forced Eritria to betray Taras by using their navy and threatening to burn the city to the ground? How pleased were we when they interfered in our body politic? How might they see us bringing violence into the sacred place of politics? In all right thinking cities, the ekklesia is a place of peace. Any who would bring violence upon it should be put to death.
"Further, what would Korinth think, were we to intervene? Could that prove the spark of war between our polis and theirs? They support the oligarchs and will almost certainly intervene to defend them. From there, it would be impossible for any save Demios to determine where war might spread. Korinth has every right to fear our navy, especially with the battering they've recently received from the Athenai, but where would the benefit be to such a war? As with Taras, finding a decisive conclusion would be all but impossible. It also bears the risk of involving us in the clash between the Delian and Peloponnesian Leagues.
"In the future, I know the Drakonids will lead us rightly, but now is not their time. Perhaps with further consideration over the next four years, they will find their way again. They lead us for nearly four decades in the past, and I suspect they will lead us rightly again soon. In a year, I would revisit the notion of exterminating the pirates of Illyria and settling a colony there to keep them in check, but not at this moment.
"Instead, I will be casting my ballot for Obander Eupraxis (Antipatrid) as our Xenoparkletor and Theron Archippos (Exoria) as our Probolous.
"@Cavalier spoke rightly when he spoke of the necessity on focusing on the Italiote Greeks and Syrakousi. Who among us does not remember the indignation caused by the forced peace of Metapontion? While their peace was offered generously, it was arrogant of them to force themselves into an honest war. It was also, however, a complete surprise to us. If Metapontion had been reassured or if they had been friendly, how much more could we have taken from Taras? Perhaps the Greek cities of the Sallantine Peninsula might be under our Hegemonia as opposed to Taras'.
"The Antipatrid suggestion to create Proxenoi among all of the Italiote Greeks makes sense. Diplomacy has always been key to survival in Magna Gracia. It was what allowed our city to thread its way to victory between hostile Peuketti, Danui and Messappi. Now, we stand atop two of those barbaroi groups as a titan. Within our future, we shall be master of all three.
"The Italoite cities are far more powerful individually and as a whole than any enemy we've previously faced. If even some of them were to unite against us, it would mean a return to the Bad Days. The days of our forefathers where existential war was around every corner. We had great men to lead us then, and I am not certain if we were to be up to the task now.
"We know that the Syrakousi hate us and are agitating against the restraints imposed on them by Herodion in the Ionian War. If we do not seek to oppose them on the diplomatic front, it is likely that they will throw off their restraints and spark a general war. We know they have sympathizers in some Italoite cities, but not where or to what degree, that's why we need proxenoi to advocate for the interests of our city, and to inform us of the going-ons of the city they are based in. The fog of uncertainty that covers the world is as dangerous as any spear or any sling.
"In voting for the Exoria Probolous, a few thoughts enter my mind. First, I want to maximize the number of metics who are invited into our fair city. I foresee us engaging in large scale colonization as soon as it is feasible and in order to do that, we need proper manpower. For many marginalized people, the chance to come to a new city and eventually be granted their own lands under our protection will be a powerful motivating factor. It is these metics that we take in now that will form the basis of our strength in trade and war in the future. We only have a limited time to garner new colonists before interest dries up, so now is the time to capitalize.
"If Taras seeks to war with us in the future, the additional, unprecedented gain in manpower will be what brings us victory in the end. Provided, of course, that Taras cannot see reason. Our Antipatrid Xenoparkletor will try to reason with them and cool inflamed hearts.
"Additionally, a Probolous from the Demos Exoria will bring new trade to our fair city and tie our barbaroi allies tightly to us. The Messapii require time and funds in order to rebuild themselves. By investing in trade with them, we give them resources to rebuild and a reason to be loyal. Before the war, they were bought with 15 talents of Athenian silver. With a single trade route between us, they would make six and four fifths every year. By the end of the Exorian mandate, they will have earned far more than the Athenai paid for them.
"I do not see the attraction in the Antipatrid plan to invite foreign heathens (even if they are Greeks!) within our city. How is that reform in any way equal to creating an Office of Festivals? Bringing cultists from the west should simply be a part of Immigration.
"In fact, I see this as counter to their Immigration goals. The Antipatrids prize loyalty first for metics, why would they look then for philosophers with a strange way of living? They are a cult of secrecy. Next to nothing is known of them.
"The military reforms they propose are necessary and I have remarked as such in the past. I just do not believe we will be involved in a land war within the near four years. With the Antipatrid Probolous working to assuage the Italoite Greeks and check Syrakousi, the Common Peace is likely to hold for now.
@Cetashwayo Is the mercantile policy of the Drakonia proboulous promising marine presence for Etetrian merchants? A sign of intimidation for pirates instead of direct action against them.
@Cetashwayo Is the mercantile policy of the Drakonia proboulous promising marine presence for Etetrian merchants? A sign of intimidation for pirates instead of direct action against them.
Eretrian shipping has been mostly untouched this year, although merchants have begun hiring rowers in order to protect their ships in more dangerous regions.
So this should make Eretrian shipping a somewhat less tempting prospect for pirates. The insurance probably helps as well.
Although I do want to deal with the piracy issue soonish, these measures probably buy us some more time, I think. To some extent, allowing things to get a little bit worse to a point where multiple cities are unhappy actually plays into our hand, because we will then reap quite a lot of kudos and glory for having destroyed the pirates.
In this election, I cannot speak from the faculty of reason. Here, I can only speak from the heart.
Some of the Pythagoreans are known to me, through my brother. Of those who hold to that philosophy, Antheia of Crotone is wise and fair, a true philosopher; a student of Theano, her sex does not dull the sharpness of her mind. Euclid Polydoros is clever and insightful, a shrewd judge of character. And Hektor of Thurii still owes me three talents from the time he used my olive press.
Leukos does not know the Pythagoreans as I do. They will enliven our city, bringing stories, philosophies and fresh perspectives; for that alone, let us re-elect Kyros Gennadios for Probolous.
So say I, Kyrillos Halophilos, mathematikon.
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One of the big things that I haven't seen raised is that the Pythagoreans fully support women as philosophers. If we really want to distinguish Eretria, one easy way to do it is to harvest brilliant philosophers from the half the population that's essentially shut out of the public sphere.
Speaking OOC, I totally have no problem with the Pythagoreans bringing their math-cult to Eretria.
Leukos the Accountant, personally, is extremely alarmed by this development. Because while talking to a bunch of Pythagoreans in a foreign city on a sea voyage, he accidentally rediscovered the proof that irrational numbers are a thing. He didn't see it as a big deal. They did.
He's not worried about the Pythagoreans corrupting the morals of Eretria or something obscure like this. It's much more practical than that. He's worried about angry Pythagoreans coming after him with knives.
Probably nothing other than comedy will result from this if the Pythagoreans do start spreading in Eretria, but he has a very good IC reason to be OOC unhappy about their coming to the city.
Write-in votes are permitted, but you have to scratch your vote on the back of a potsherd and throw it in the barrel with the rocks.
It's pure roleplaying.
Speaking OOC, I totally have no problem with the Pythagoreans bringing their math-cult to Eretria.
Leukos the Accountant, personally, is extremely alarmed by this development. Because while talking to a bunch of Pythagoreans in a foreign city on a sea voyage, he accidentally rediscovered the proof that irrational numbers are a thing. He didn't see it as a big deal. They did.
He's not worried about the Pythagoreans corrupting the morals of Eretria or something obscure like this. It's much more practical than that. He's worried about angry Pythagoreans coming after him with knives.
Probably nothing other than comedy will result from this if the Pythagoreans do start spreading in Eretria, but he has a very good IC reason to be OOC unhappy about their coming to the city.
I figured your discussions about whether root 2 is irrational the length of the diagonal of a square with length 1 deserved some further IC highlighting.
