How did Solon free Athenians who had been enslaved because of debt?

Solon addressed the enslavement of Athenians due to debt through a series of economic reforms known as the "shaking off of burdens" (seisachtheia).12

His primary actions included:

• Abolishing Debt Slavery: Solon prohibited all future loans that were secured by the borrower's person, effectively ending the practice of using one's own body as collateral.12
• Freeing the Enslaved: He freed all citizens who had been enslaved due to debt, a measure he described as "freeing the black earth".13
• Removing Debt Markers: Solon physically removed the horoi (or mortgage stones) that had been placed on land to signify the owner's indebtedness or subordinate status.13
• Repatriation: He took steps to bring back Athenians who had been sold into slavery abroad or who had fled into exile to escape debt, even those who no longer spoke the Attic language.13

These reforms were intended to restore the status of independent smallholders in Attica and prevent the further concentration of power and land among the wealthy elite.13