Meanings
-
1
noun
one of the chief magistrates of ancient Athens
The archon presided over the hearing and carried out the duties assigned to his office.
-
2
noun
a ruler, governor, or other person holding sovereign authority
The province's archon answered directly to the imperial court.
-
3
noun
in some Gnostic systems, a supernatural power believed to govern part of the material cosmos
The text portrays each archon as an obstacle confronting the ascending soul.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek arkhon, 'ruler' or 'magistrate,' the noun use of the present participle of arkhein, 'to rule' or 'to be first.' In classical Athens, archon became the title of each of several principal civic magistrates.