Policital leadership of athens was passed to a decendant of what powerful and historically influential family?
Ephialtes Ephialtes (Greek: Ἐφιάλτης , "Ephialtēs") was an ancient Athenian politician and an early leader of the democratic movement there. In the late 460s BC, he oversaw reforms that diminished the power of the Areopagus, a traditional bastion of conservatism, and which are considered by many modern historians to mark the beginning of the "radical democracy" for which Athens would become famous. These powers included the scrutiny and control of office holders, and the judicial functions in state trials. He introduced pay for public officeholders, reduced the property qualifications for holding a public office, and created a new definition of citizenship. Ephialtes, however, would not live to participate in this new form of government for long. In 461 BC, he was assassinated, probably at the instigation of resentful oligarchs, and the political leadership of Athens passed to his deputy, Pericles.
Boule (ancient Greece) In cities of ancient Greece, the boule (Greek: βουλή , "boulē"; plural βουλαί, "boulai") was a council of 400–500 citizens (βουλευταί, "bouleutai") appointed to run daily affairs of the city. Originally a council of nobles advising a king, "boulai" evolved according to the constitution of the city; in oligarchies "boule" positions might be hereditary, while in democracies members were typically chosen by lot, and served for one year. Little is known about the workings of many "boulai", except in the case of Athens, for which extensive material has survived.