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They also elect by show of hands all the military officers—ten Generals, formerly one from each tribe, but now from all the citizens together, and the vote decides the assignment of duties to these—one being appointed to the heavy infantry, who commands them on foreign expeditions; one to the country, who guards it and commands in any war that takes place in it; two to Peiraeus, one of them to Munychia and the other to the Point, who superintend the protection of the population of Peiraeus; one to the Symmories,1 who enrols the Captains of triremes and carries out their exchanges and introduces their claims for exemption; and the others they dispatch on expeditions as occasion arises. [2] A confirmatory vote is taken in each presidency upon the satisfactoriness of their administration; and if this vote goes against any officer he is tried in the jury- court, and if convicted, the penalty or fine to be imposed on him is assessed, but if he is acquitted he resumes office. When in command of a force they have power to punish breach of discipline with imprisonment, exile, or the infliction of a fine; but a fine is not usual. [3] They also elect by show of hands ten Regimental Commanders, one of each tribe; these lead their fellow-tribesmen and appoint company-commanders. [4] They also elect by show of hands two Cavalry Commanders from the whole body of citizens; these lead the Knights, each commanding a division consisting of five tribes, and their powers are the same as those of the Generals over the heavy infantry. The Cavalry Commanders' election also is submitted to a confirmatory vote. [5] They also elect by show of hands ten Tribal Commanders, one for each tribe, to lead the cavalry as the Regimental Commanders lead the heavy infantry. [6] They also elect by show of hands a Cavalry Commander for Lemnos, to take control of the cavalry in that island. [7] They also elect by show of hands a Treasurer of the Paralus,2 and at the present day a Treasurer of the ship of Ammon.
1 The 20 companies in which the 1200 richest citizens were enrolled for payment of the εἰσφορά or property-tax levied to meet emergency expenses of war.
2 One of the state triremes used for embassies, etc. The other, the Salaminia, was superseded by the one named after Zeus Ammon, specially used to convey missions to Cyrene on the way to the shrine of Zeus Ammon.
Aristotle in 23 Volumes, Vol. 20, translated by H. Rackham. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1952.
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