Dokimasia
(
δοκιμασία). The name used at Athens to denote the process
of ascertaining the capacity of the citizens for the exercise of public rights and duties. If,
for instance, a young citizen was to be admitted among the
Ephebi (q.v.), he was examined in an assembly of his district to find out whether he
was descended on both sides from Athenian citizens, and whether he possessed the physical
capacity for military service. All officials, too—even the members of the
Senate—had to submit to an examination before entering upon their office. The
purpose of this was to ascertain, not their actual capacity for the post, which was
presupposed in all candidates, but their descent from Athenian citizens, their life and
character, and (in the case of some offices which involved the administration of large sums)
even the amount of their property. The examination was carried on in public by the archons in
the presence of the Senate, and any one present had the right to raise objections. If such
objections were held to be valid the candidate was rejected; but he had the right to appeal to
the decision of a court, which would take cognizance of the matter in judicial form. On the
other hand, if he were accepted, any one who thought his claims insufficient had the right of
instituting judicial proceedings against him. If the decision was adverse he would lose his
office, and was further liable to punishment varying according to the offence charged against
him—which might be, for instance, that of unlawfully assuming the rights of a
citizen. A speaker in a public assembly might thus be brought before a court by any citizen,
for no one not possessed of the full right of citizenship could legally address the people.
The question might thus be raised whether the orator were not actually
atimos, or guilty of an offence which involved
atimia (q. v.).