THE OFFICIALS

There follow brief remarks on the various officials included in this work. The general criterion for inclusion has been those for whom we have names and who were subject to election, by whatever means, to positions in the service of the state or sections thereof where there is some connexion with the operation of state functions. There will be doubt in some cases, but I have sought justification in the appropriate section below. I have not felt obliged to restrict myself to those positions only which could be termed an arche, but have rather followed what seemed to be (though the term is dangerous) common sense.

There is one area, however, which needs to be dealt with here. I had originally included trierarchs and archetheoroi. This was an issue which provoked debate on both sides of the question. I had thought that trierarchs in particular were of some importance, but of course they were liturgants. If we included them, why should not other liturgants find a place? Systematic lists of those performing the various liturgies could be useful, but the decision was made to exclude trierarchs and with them went any possibility of other liturgants. Consistency has led me to resist an inconsolable plea for archetheoroi, but let me at least include for archetheoroi to Delos a reference to Coupry, BCH 1954, 285ff.

Certain assumptions may be held to apply to most, if not all, of the positions included.