The New Student's Reference Work/Draco

Draco (drā′kō), a Greek legislator and the author of Athens' first code of laws, was born about 621 B. C. He probably simply put in writing the laws which were customary in his time; but these laws seem harsh and cruel to people of later times. Draco has had to bear the blame of their severity. His laws ordered how a child must be brought up from its birth, and educated, and what his duties were when he became a man. Plutarch says that death was the penalty for nearly every crime. The writing of the laws was probably intended to prevent the archons, who were at the head of the government, from abusing the rights of the people. Nothing is known of Draco's life.