Naucraria
(
ναυκραρία). An early administrative division at Athens,
dating from prehistoric times, for taxation for military purposes. They were forty-eight in
number, twelve from each of the old phylae. Each of them was obliged to furnish two horsemen
and a ship towards the army and navy. The naucrari, who were at their head, seem to have
formed a college or corporate body, who occupied themselves especially with all military and
financial affairs, while current business was managed by the
πρυτανεῖς, whose office was the Prytaneum. Clisthenes raised their number to
fifty, five from each of the ten new phylae, and probably restricted in functions to the
services of the State, and especially the fleet. It is likely that they were given up after
the fleet had been increased by Themistocles, and that their place was probably taken by the
trierarchies. See
Liturgia.