PARE´DRI
PARE´DRI (
πάρεδροι),
assessors, whom we find attached to the three
superior archons, the euthyni, and the Hellenotamiae. Each of the three
superior archons was at liberty to have two assessors (
πάρεδροι) chosen by himself, to assist him by advice and
otherwise in the performance of his various duties. (Aeschin.
c.
Tim. § 158; Poll. 8.92.) That the magistrates who had a
right to
πάρεδροι appointed them, and that
it was not an appointment by lot, appears from Pollux,
l.c. and ch. 101, on which see Boeckh's comment
(
Staatsaush. i.3 p. 245) and Phot. s.
v. The assessor, like the magistrate himself, had to undergo a
δοκιμασία in the Senate of Five Hundred and
before a judicial tribunal, before he could be permitted to enter upon his
labours. He was also to render an account (
εὔθυναι) at the end of the year. The office is called an
ἀρχή ([Dem.]
c. Neaer.
p. 1369.72). The duties of the archon, magisterial and judicial, were so
numerous, that one of the principal objects of having assessors must have
been to enable them to get through their business. We find the
πάρεδρος assisting the archon at the
λῆξις δίκης. ([Dem.]
c. Theoc.
p. 1332.32.) He had authority to keep order at public festivals and
theatres, and to impose a fine on the disorderly (Dem.
c.
Mid. p. 572.179). As the archons were chosen by lot (
κληρωτοί), and might be persons of inferior
capacity, and not very well fitted for their station, it might often be
useful, or even necessary for them, to procure the assistance of clever men
of business. ([Dem.]
c. Neaer. p. 1372.81.) And perhaps it
was intended that the
πάρεδροι should not
only assist, but in some measure check and control the power of their
principals. They are spoken of as being
βοηθοι,
συμβουλοι καὶ φύλακες. Stephanus is accused of buying his
place of the
Ἄρχων βασιλεύς (
c.
Neaer. p. 1369.72). It was usual to choose relations and friends
to be assessors; but they might at any time be dismissed, at least for good
cause (ib. p. 1373.84). The Thesmothetae had no assessors: if they chose to
have unofficial advisers (
σύμβουλοι) as in
[Dem.]
c. Theoc. p. 1330.27, it was their own private affair,
and had no state recognition. (Schömann,
Antiq. of
Greece,) p. 413.) The office of
πάρεδρος
[p. 2.345]was called
παρεδρία, and to exercise it
παρεδρεύειν.
Each of the Hellenotamiae had a
πάρεδρος to
assist him (
C. I. A. 1.180-183): for the assessors of the
εὔθυνοι, see
EUTHYNE Vol. I. p. 763
b. (Gilbert,
Staatsalterthümer, i. p. 240
ff.; Boeckh,
op. cit.; Schömann,
op. cit.) [
C.R.K]
[
G.E.M]
(Appendix). The number, two for
each of the three superior archons, is confirmed by 100.56: also that they
were subject to
δοκιμασία and
εὔθυναι. The two
πάρεδροι of the
εὔθυνοι
are mentioned in 100.48.
