What does ostrakon mean?
An ostrakon is a broken or discarded potsherd, typically from ancient Greece, used as a voting token or ballot. The term is derived from the Greek word for ostracism, referring to the practice of banishing citizens from a city-state. Ostrakons were used in ancient Athens to record votes for or against individuals, and their discovery has provided valuable insights into the city's politics and history. The study of ostrakons is a specialized field, and the term is primarily used in academic or historical contexts. While the term may seem obscure, it is an important part of understanding ancient Greek culture and politics. The use of ostrakons as voting tokens highlights the importance of recorded votes in ancient democracies, and their study continues to shed light on the complexities of ancient Athenian society.
nounAn ostrakon is a broken or discarded potsherd, typically from ancient Greece, used as a voting token or ballot.
- An ostrakon is a broken or discarded potsherd, typically from ancient Greece, used as a voting token or ballot.
"The archaeologist carefully examined the ostrakon to determine its origin and date."
"The archaeologist carefully examined the ostrakon to determine its origin and date."
"The historian used ostrakons to study ancient Athenian politics."
The plural form ostrakons is used to refer to multiple voting tokens or potsherds.
"The historian studied a collection of ostrakons to understand ancient Athenian politics."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ostrakon
The term ostrakon is derived from the Greek word ὄστρακον (ostrakon), which referred to the practice of ostracism. This practice involved banishing citizens from a city-state, and the term was later applied to the broken potsherds used as voting tokens. The use of ostrakons as voting tokens dates back to ancient Athens, where they were used to record votes for or against individuals. The study of ostrakons has provided valuable insights into ancient Greek politics and culture, and the term remains an important part of historical and academic discourse.
How ostrakon is actually used
Ostrakons are typically used in academic or historical contexts to refer to ancient Greek voting tokens.