Archōn
（
ἄρχων). “Ruler.” The Athenian name
for the supreme authority established on the abolition of royalty. On the death of the last
king, Codrus, B.C. 1068, the headship of the state for life was bestowed on his son Medon and
his descendants under the title of Archon. In B.C. 752 their term of office was reduced to ten
years; in 714 their exclusive privilege was abolished, and the right to hold the office thrown
open to all the nobility, while its duration was diminished to one year; finally in B.C. 683
the power was divided among nine Archons. By Solon's legislation his wealthiest class, the
πεντακοσιομέδιμνοι, became eligible to the office; and by
Aristides' arrangement after the Persian Wars, it was thrown open to the whole body of
citizens, Clisthenes having previously, in the interests of the democracy, substituted the
drawing of lots for election by vote. The political power of the office, having steadily
decreased with time, sank to nothing when democracy was established; its holders had no longer
even the right to deliberate and originate motions, their action being limited to certain
priestly and judicial functions, relics of their once regal power.
The titles and duties of the several archons were as follows:
1.
Their president, named emphatically Archon or Archon Eponymus (
ἄρχων ἐπώνυμος) because the civil year was named after him. He had charge of
the Great Dionysia, the Thargelia, the embassies to festivals (
θεωρίαι), and the nomination of choregi; also the position of guardianin-chief,
and the power to appoint guardians; the presidency in all suits about family rights (such as
questions of divorce or inheritance), and in disputes among the choregi.
2.
The Archon Basileus (
ἄρχων βασιλεύς), called so because
on him devolved certain sacred rites inseparably connected with the name of king. He had the
care of the Eleusinian Mysteries, and was obliged therefore to be an initiated person; of the
Lenaea and Anthesteria; of gymnastic contests, over which he appointed a superintendent; and
of a number of antiquated sacrifices, some of which fell to the share of his wife, the
βασίλισσα (queen); and lastly, the position of president in
all suits touching religious law, including those trials for murder that came within the
jurisdiction of the
Ephetae (q.v.).
3.
The Archon Polemarchos (
ἄρχων πολέμαρχος, leader in war)
was originally intrusted with the war department, and as late as the battle of Marathon had
the right of voting with the ten generals, and the old royal privilege of commanding the
right wing. After wards he only had charge of the state sacrifices offered to the gods of war
and to the shade of Harmodius; the public funerals of those who fell in war, and the annual
feasts in honour of them; and finally, jurisdiction in all questions concerning the personal
and family rights of resident aliens (
μέτοικοι) and
strangers. All this rested on the old assumption that foreigner meant enemy. Each of these
three superior archons had two assessors chosen by himself, but respousible.
4.
The six Thesmothetae (
θεσμοθέται, law-givers) administered
justice in all cases not pertaining to the senior archons or some other authority, revised
the laws once a year, and superintended the apportioning of public offices by lot. The
several archons exercised their jurisdiction at different places in the city; that of the
Polemarch alone lay outside the walls. Duties common to all nine were: the yearly appointment
by lot of the
Heliastae (q.v.), the choice of
umpires in the Panathenaea, the holding of elections of the generals and other military
officers, jurisdiction in the case of officials suspended or deposed by the people, and
latterly even in suits which had previously been subject to the
nautodicae. (See
Nautodicae.) If they had
discharged their office without blame they entered the Areopagus as members for life. (See
Areopagus.) The office of archon lasted even
under the Roman rule. See Lugebil,
Zur Geschichte der Staatsverfassung von
Athen (Leipzig, 1871); Meier,
Index Archontum Eponymorum, etc.
