The New Bouleuterion

The New Bouleuterion replaced the Old Bouleuterion about 415-406 BC as the daily meeting place of the boule (council of 500). Normally only the 50 members of the monthly presiding tribe (prytaneis) would be required, but the bouleuterion had seating for the full 500, on wooden benches arranged in a semi-circle. The boule's job was to prepare legislation to be voted on by the full democratic assembly (ekklesia) which met every ten days or so in the Pnyx (on the hillside about 400m west). The boule were chosen by lot from each deme (village or local community) according to a quota based on the size of population, assuring equal representation.