Draco (active 7th century bc) Athenian political leader and lawmaker. He drew up the first written code of laws in Athens. Famous for their severity (hence the adjective ‘draconian’), the death penalty was prescribed even for minor offences.

Draco (7th century bc), Athenian legislator. His codification of Athenian law was notorious for its severity in that the death penalty was imposed even for trivial crimes, giving rise to the adjective draconian.