Christopher W. Blackwell, edition of March 21, 2003 page 1 of 7
· Summary · Apophasis refers to an investigation into serious
threats to the Athenian democracy, especially treason and
bribery, although there is some evidence for it being used for
lesser offenses. This investigation involved several branches of
the Athenian government: the Assembly, the Areopagus, and the
People’s Court. This procedure, an innovation of the later 4th
century BCE, began with an investigation conducted by the
Areopagus, which would issue a report. The report was called an
apophasis (ἀπόφασις). Eventually, the whole
procedure—investigation, report, prosecution—came to be known by
this term. When the Areopagus issued its report on suspected
treason or bribery, it included a recommendation, either to
prosecute certain parties or not to. If the Areopagus
recommended prosecution, the Assembly would appoint prosecutors,
and the matter would be tried before the People’s Court. The
different institutions seem to have served to balance e