What was the main purpose of the ancient Athenian institution of ostracism?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Exiling politicians suspected of seeking tyranny
- Step 1: Once a year, Athenian citizens could vote by scratching a name on a shard of broken pottery (ostrakon). If a quorum was reached, the individual receiving the most votes was exiled from Athens for ten years without loss of property or citizenship, to neutralize potential tyrants. Answer: Exiling politicians suspected of seeking tyranny. Why not the others: "Executing traitors by public vote" is incorrect; ostracism involved honorable ten-year exile without physical harm or capital execution; "Seizing private property of debtors" ostracized citizens retained all their private property and received revenues while living abroad; "Electing foreign kings to rule" the entire purpose of ostracism was to safeguard the democracy against monarchical or tyrannical rule.
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