Draco

This article is about Draco, the Greek lawgiver from Athens. For other Dracos see Draco (disambiguation).

Draco was the first law scribe of ancient Athens, Greece. The laws, transcribed in 621 BC when he was archon eponymous, were particularly harsh, as the death penalty was the punishment for even minor offenses. Hence expressions such as "draconian punishment" or "draconian laws", and more generally, "draconian measures" (far-reaching).

Draco was first to codify Athenian law; contrary to popular belief, however, he was not the creator of these laws.

Draco's code of laws was superseded by that of Solan in the early 6th century BC.