HIEROMNE´MONES
HIEROMNE´MONES (
ἱερομνήμονες) were the more honourable of the two classes of
representatives who composed the Amphictyonic council. An account of them is
given under
AMPHICTYONES
We also read of Hieromnemones in Grecian states, distinct from the
Amphictyonic representatives of this name, and mostly bearing no trace of a
sacred character. Thus, officers called
ἱερομνήμονες, ἐπιστάται, and
μνήμονες are mentioned by Aristotle (
Aristot. Pol. 6.8=p. 1321 b, 39) as the
custodians of state papers and of the records of judicial decisions (cf.
Schömann,
Antiq. 1.138 E. T.). It is perhaps
exceptional that the priests of Poseidon at Megara were called hieromnemones
(Plut.
Symp. 8.8.4). At Byzantium, which was a colony of
Megara, the chief magistrate in the state appears to have been called by
this name; in a decree quoted by Demosthenes (
de
Cor. p. 255.90; compare
Plb. 4.52.4),
a hieromnemon is mentioned, who gives his name to the year; and we also find
the same word on the coins of this city. (Eckhel,
Doctr. Num.
vol. ii. p. 31, &c.) At Chalcedon, another colony of Megara, a
hieromnemon also existed, as is proved by a decree which is still extant.
(
C. I. G. 3794; cf. Müller,
Dor. 3.9.10.) An inscription found in Thasos also mentions a
hieromnemon who presided over the treasury (
C. I. G. 2161,
with Boeckh's commentary, vol. ii. pp. 183, 184).
Besides the representative at the Amphictyonic council, we find at Athens
hieromnemones belonging to local and gentile organisations:
ἱερομνήμονες Ἡρακλέους (
C. I.
A. 2.788, Fränkel, n. 536 on Boeckh); a
γένος Σαλαμινίων with an
ἄρχων and
ἱερομνήμονες in
an inscription published in
Ἀθήναιον,
6.274,
Mittheilungen des deutschen archäol. Inst. in
Athen, 4.265 (Gilbert,
Staatsalterth. 1.201).
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