029 Bkack Ball Ostracism [Ostakimos] the Black Ball or the Black Balling Someone. It Was a Way of Life in Athens in the Athenian Democracy. As Athens Had Family Tribes One Way to Control Accumulated Power Was for the Tribes to Be Able to Black Ball Someone . Decreed by Kleisthenes and Used as a Political Manoeuvre. 5 Th Cen. b. c. Agora Museum Athens