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Heliaia (Greek: Ἡλιαία) or Halia (Greek: ἁλία) was the supreme court of ancient Athens. Τhe generally held scientific view is that the court drew its name from the ancient Greek verb ἀλιάζεσθαι, which means συναθροίζεσθαι, namely congregate[α]. Another version is that the court took its name from the fact that the hearings were taking place outdoors, under the sun[β]. Heliaia was also called big ecclesia. Inititally, this was the name of the place where the hearings were convoked, but later this appellation included the court as well[1]. The judges were called heliasts (ἡλιασταί) or dikasts (δικασταί, ὀμωμοκότες = those who swore on, namely the jurors). The operation of judging was called ἡλιάζεσθαι (= δικάζειν). Institution and composition of Heliaia It is not clear whether Heliaia was instituted by
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