law code of Draco, however, failed to prevent the tensions between the rich and poor which were the impetus to Solon's reforms.

In 594/3 BC, Solon was appointed "archon and mediator". Exactly what his reforms consisted of is uncertain. He claimed to have taken up the horoi to set the land free, but the exact meaning of horoi is unknown; their removal seems to have been part of the problem of hektemoroi - another word whose meaning is obscure. Solon