The Rise and Fall of the Aristocrats

Solon's innovation separated out the richest citizens from the Hippase as a new class, and defined precisely in economic terms the specific qualifications for each class. The offices of state were thus divided among the top three classes. Only the first two classes were able to hold the nine R-Conships. Solon also introduced the Council of 400, called the Boule, which was distinct from the Ariapagos. It is reasonable to presume that the Thetes were excluded, but allowed the Hoplite class's zugatai to be included in this new council. We are unsure what the new powers of the Boule were, because it never was put into effect, but it probably would