Ostracism - Analogues

Analogues

Other cities are known to have set up forms of ostracism on the Athenian model, namely Megara, Miletos, Argos and Syracuse. In the last of these it was referred to as petalismos, because the names were written on olive leaves. Little is known about these institutions. Furthermore, pottery sherds identified as ostraka have been found in Chersonesos Taurica, leading historians to the conclusion that a similar institution existed there as well, in spite of the silence of the ancient records on that count.

A similar modern practice is the recall election, in which the electoral body removes its representation from an elected officer. There have also been comparisons drawn in the United Kingdom with appointment to the European Commission, which has the effect of removing political figures from the country for a period of years.

It is interesting to note that unlike under modern voting procedures, the Athenians did not have to adhere to a strict format for the inscribing of ostraka. Many extant ostraka show that it was possible to write expletives, short epigrams or cryptic injunctions beside the name of the candidate without invalidating the vote. For example:

• Kallixenes, son of Aristonimos, "the traitor".
• Archen, "lover of foreigners".
• Agasias, "the donkey".
• Megacles, "the adulterer".