The important offices in Athens were now open to all Athenians, not only to all Athenian men but in the case of the priesthood of Athena Nike also to all Athenian women. The decree regulating the cult [...] Athena Nike a priestess being chosen by lot from all Athenian women is to be appointed’. It was a radical democratic decision to elect a priestess by lot from all Athenians ( ekhs Athenaion hapason ). [...] to appoint a priestess from all Athenians undermined the last vestige of archaic power held by the gene in their monopoly over priesthoods and redistributed it over all Athenians. [22] The