Ostraka are inscribed potsherds used for the institution known as ostrakismos or ostracism. This ostrakon features the name of Athenian politician and general Themistocles scratched into the black glaze of small, circular and concave pottery disks, or ostrakons. Eligible citizens could enter by handing an ostrakon to an official, inscribed with the name of the individual he wished to see ostracised. Those ostracised citizens were given ten days to settle their affairs and leave Athens. Citizenship was not affected, nor their property touched, and they retained access to its proceeds. Return to the city for ten years was forbidden - on penalty of death. These Ostraka are on display in the Stoa of Attalos in the Agora Museum, the civic and commercial centre of ancient Athens.