prytanis

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a member of the prytany, the section of the Athenian council serving for a fixed period as its presiding executive committee

   As prytanis, he helped set the council's agenda during his tribe's term of presidency.

2. 2
   noun

   a chief civic official in various ancient Greek states after the end of monarchy

   The inscription names a prytanis who supervised the city's principal public ceremony.

Borrowed through Latin from Ancient Greek prytanis, 'ruler, lord, or presiding official'. The deeper origin of the Greek word is uncertain. In Athens it became the title of a member of the council section currently holding the presidency.

Topics