Solon, the wise lawgiver of Athens
Solon, the wise lawgiver of Athens, was a descendant of King Codrus. His father had given away most of his wealth to help his city or his countrymen, so Solon became a merchant, as the sons of noblemen often did in these days of long ago. To increase his business, Solon journeyed through many of the states of Greece as well as to Asia. Wherever he went he studied the laws and manners of the people, just as Lycurgus the lawgiver of Sparta had done. Solon was not only a merchant, he was also a poet, and because he was both wise and learned he was counted one of the seven sages of Greece. When Solon returned from one of his journeys about 593 b.c., he was made an archon and asked to reform the laws.