Sitopōlae
(
σιτοπῶλαι). Middlemen at Athens who sold grain and who
were carefully watched by the citizens as well as by the importers lest they should
“corner the market” (
συνωνεῖσθαι) and put
up the price of cereals (
συνιστάναι τὰς τιμάς), an offence
legally punishable with death; nor was any bail allowed to them before trial. This law,
however, was systematically evaded (
Or. 22). See
Sitophylaces.