prytanes

The Prytanes were a council of fifty male citizens of Athens who served as the executive body of the Athenian government. They were chosen by lot from the ten tribes of Athens, with five prytanes from each tribe serving in rotation. The office of the prytanes was held for one tenth of the year, corresponding to one of the ten Athenian months. The prytanes were responsible for presiding over the Boule, the Athenian council, and for carrying out its decisions. They also had significant administrative and judicial powers.

The prytanes met daily in the Tholos, a circular building located in the Agora. They were responsible for managing the state treasury, overseeing public works, and receiving embassies. The prytanes also had the authority to arrest and detain individuals suspected of treason or other serious offenses. Their role was central to the functioning of Athenian democracy, ensuring the continuous operation of the government and the implementation of policies decided by the Boule and the Assembly. The rotation of the prytanes among the tribes ensured a degree of decentralization and prevented any single group from monopolizing power.