The eponymous archon (anc. Gk. ἐπώνυμος ἄρχων, romanized epōnymos archōn) was the chief magistrate in various ancient Greek city states, who gave his name to the year in which he held office, much like Roman consuls. "Archon" (ἄρχων, pl. ἄρχοντες, archontes) means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office,At first the chief of the city was only a priest. "The charge of the public sacrifices of the city belongs according to religious custom, not to special priests, but to those men who derive their dignity from the hearth, and who are here called kings, elsewhere Prytaneis, and again archons." (Aristotle, Politics, VIII.5)
In Classical Athens, a system of nine concurrent archons evolved, led by three respective remits over the civic, military, and religious affairs of the state: the three office holders were known as the eponymous archon (ruler of Athens, the highest political office in the city-state), the polemarch (πολέμαρχος, "war ruler", the commander-in-chief of the Athenian military), and the archon basileus (ἄρχων βασιλεύς, "king ruler", the high priest of the city).Michael Rostovtzeff, Greece, passim."The Athenian archons when they entered upon their duties ascended to the Acropolis wearing crowns of myrtles, and offered a sacrifice to the titular, divinity of the town. It was also customary for them to wear crowns of foliage when they exercised their functions. And it is certain that the crown, which became and which still remains the emblem of power, was then only a religious symbol, an exterior sign, which accompanied prayer and sacrifice. Amongst the nine archons, the second archon, the one called the King, was the representative of the high priestly function of the old Kings, but each of his colleagues had some priestly duty to fulfill, some sacrifice to offer to the gods. ("Gustave Ducoudray, The history of ancient civilization: a handbook, 1889 pg 129) The six others were the thesmothetai, judicial officers. Originally these offices were filled from the wealthier classes by elections every ten years. During this period the eponymous archon was the chief magistrate, the polemarch was the head of the armed forces, and the archon basileus was responsible for some civic religious arrangements, and for the supervision of some major trials in the law courts. After 683 BC the offices were held for only a single year, and the year was named after the eponymous archon.
Background
The archon was the chief magistrate in many Greek cities, but in Athens there was a council of archons which exerted a form of executive government. From the late 8th century BC there were three archons: the archon eponymos, the polemarchos (originally with a military role, which was transferred to the ten strategoi in 501 BC), and the archon basileus (the ceremonial vestige of the Athenian monarchy).Gods, Heroes and Tyrants: Greek Chronology in Chaos By Emmet John Sweeney. These positions were filled from the aristocracy (the Eupatridae) by elections every ten years. During this period Archon Eponymous was the chief magistrate, the Polemarch was the head of the armed forces, and the Archon Basileus was responsible for the civic religious arrangements.
After 683 BC the offices were held for only a single year, and the year was named after the archon eponymous. The year ran from July to June. The archon eponymous was the chief archon, and presided over meetings of the Boule and Ecclesia, the ancient Athenian assemblies. The archon eponymous remained the titular head of state even under the democracy, though with much reduced political importance. Under the reforms of Solon, himself archon eponymous in 594 BC, there was a brief period when the number of archons rose to ten. After 457 BC ex-archons were automatically enrolled as life members of the Areopagus, though that assembly was no longer extremely important politically.
One of the archons oversaw the procedure for ostracism after 487 BC.Fox The Classical World p. 122 An archon's court was in charge of the epikleroi.Lacey The Family in Ancient Greece p. 139-145 Other duties of the archons included supervising the Panathenaea and Dionysia festivals.Adkins Handbook to Life in Ancient Greece p. 35-36
List of archons of Athens In the following list of Archons, years where the name of the archon is unknown are identified as such. Years listed as "anarchy" mean that there was literally "no archon". There are various conflicting reconstructions of lists; sources for this list are given at the end. Note that the term of an archon covered two of our years, beginning in the spring or summer and continuing into the next spring or summer. The polemarch or strategoi, basileus, and thesmothetai (the six assistants to the archons) are also listed, where known.
Archaic period
Life archons
The later Athenian tradition varies on the exact position of this line; they held archonship for life, sometimes referred to as "Perpetual Archon", and exercised the sacral powers of kingship, as did the archon basileus later. The historicity of any of this ancient list may be reasonably doubted. However, Aristotle indicates, within the Constitution of Athens, that it was indeed the house of Codrus that abolished the title of king in favor of Archon.Aristotle Constitution of Athens, 3 Year Archon Other notable information 1068–1048 BC Medon ()The son of Codrus was lame, which was why his brother Neileus would not let him rule, but the Delphian oracle bestowed the kingdom upon Medon. For more see Pausanias, Description of Greece, 7. 2. 1. First ruler of Attica after the period of the Kings.1048–1012 BCAcastus ()Constitution of Athens and Related Texts – Page 70John Blair, Blair's Chronological and Historical Tables: From the Creation to the Present Time, with Additions and Corrections from the Most Authentic Writers, Including the Computation of St. Paul, as Connecting the Period from the Exode to the Temple. London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1844. pg. 27 Troy VIIb2 destroyed (c. 1120 BC). 1012–993 BCArchippusJohn Lemprière, A Classical Dictionary pg. 183 993–952 BCThersippusPausanias, Description of Greece, Volume 3 – Page 64. (cf. "The successors of Codrus were Medon (son of Codrus), Acastus (son of Medon), Archippus (son of Acastus), Thersippus (son of Archippus), Phorbas (son of Thersippus), Megacles (son of Phorbas), Diognetus (son of Megacles), Pherecles (son of Diognetus), Ariphron (son of Pherecles), Thespieus (son of Ariphron), Agamestor (son of Thespieus), Aeschylus (son of Agamestor), Alcmaeon. All these, according to the common tradition, held the archonship for life. After Alcmaeon the tenure of the office was made decennial. The first decennial archon was Charops, the second was Aesimides, and the third was Clidicus. See Eusebius, Chronic. vol. 1. pp. 185–190, ed. Schone.") 952–922 BCPhorbas () Troy VIIb3: deserted (c. 950 BC)922–892 BCMegacles () 892–864 BCDiognetus 864–845 BCPhereclesMichael Russell, A Connection of Sacred and Profane History, Pg 355 Homer composes the IliadSee Historicity of the Iliad. and Odyssey. (c. 850 BC)Herodotus 2.53.845–825 BCAriphron 824–797 BC Thespieus () 796–778 BCAgamestorGeorge Crabb, Universal Historical Dictionary pg. 91 778–755 BCAeschylus () First OlympiadAccording to Diodorus Siculus (of the 1st century BC).Blair, Chronological and Historical Tables pg. 30 (776 BC)755–753 BCAlcmaeon ()
Decennial archons In 753 BC the perpetual archonship by the EupatridaeHerodotus, George Rawlinson, Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, Sir John Gardner Wilkinson. The History of Herodotus: A New English Version, Ed. with Copious Notes and Appendices, Illustrating the History and Geography of Herodotus, from the Most Recent Sources of Information; and Embodying the Chief Results, Historical and Ethnographical, which Have Been Obtained in the Progress of Cuneiform and Hieroglyphical Discovery, Volume 3. Appleton, 1882. Pg 316 was limited to 10 years (the "decennial archons"):Evelyn Abbott. A Skeleton Outline of Greek History: Chronologically Arranged. Pg 27.
Year Archon Other notable information 753–743 BC CharopsThe Roman Antiquities, Volume 1. By Dionysius (Halicarnassensis). pg 162.History of Ancient and Modern Greece. By John Frost. Pg 35 In Rome, Romulus, the first ruler of the city, takes power.According to Dionysius of Halicarnassus743–733 BC AesimidesPausanias's Description of Greece, 4.5.3; Volume 3 By Pausanias. Pg 64 In Messenia, First Messenian War begins. 733–723 BC ClidicusHenry-Fines Clinton. Fasti Hellenici, the Civil and Literary Chronology of Greece, from the Earliest Accounts to the Death of Augustus. University Press, 1834 pg 241, Pg 166 Diaulos footrace introduced at the Olympics. (724 BC) 723–713 BC HippomenesNicolas Lenglet Dufresnoy. Chronological Tables of Universal History: Sacred and Profane, Ecclesiastical and Civil; from the Creation of the World, to the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-three. With a Preliminary Discourse on the Short Method of Studying History; and a Catalogue of Books Necessary for that Purpose; with Some Remarks on Them, Volume 1. A. Millar, 1762. Pg 124 713–703 BC Leocrates 703–693 BC ApsanderJohn Blair. Blair's Chronological and Historical Tables: From the Creation to the Present Time, with Additions and Corrections from the Most Authentic Writers, Including the Computation of St. Paul, as Connecting the Period from the Exode to the Temple. Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, Paternoster Row., 1844. Pg 38 Hesiod writes "Theogony" (c. 700 BC). 693–683 BC Eryxias Boxing added to the Olympics. (688 BC)Blair's Chronological and Historical Tables. Pg 39 Chalcedon colony founded (685 BC).
Annual archons
After 683 BC the archonship was limited to one year. Archons resided in the Prytaneion.
Year Eponymous archonUnless otherwise indicated, the names and dates of archons down to 481/0 BC are taken from T. J. Cadoux, "The Athenian Archons from Kreon to Hypsichides", Journal of Hellenic Studies, 68 (1948), pp. 70-123 Other officials or associated events 682–681 BC Creon Creon is considered by the ancient sources, and most modern authorities, as the first annual archon.Cadoux, "Athenian Archons", p. 88 681–680 BC Lysiades Mentioned in the Parian Marble. 680–679 BC Tlesias Pausanias (IV.15.1) dates the beginning of the Second Messenian War to his archonship. 679–671 BC Unknown 671–670 BC Leostratus 670–669 BC Unknown 669–668 BC Pisistratus Pausanias (II.24.7) dates the first Battle of Hysiae to his archonship. 668–667 BC Autosthenes Pausanias (IV.23.4) dates the capture of Eira and the end of the Second Messenian War to his archonship. 667–664 BC Unknown 664–663 BC MiltiadesCadoux notes "We cannot be sure that it was the same man who held the second archonship, nor, if we held that it was, do we know anything of the circumstances under which this happened. Nor, again, do we know if this man or men belonged to the Philaid family." ("Athenian Archons", p. 90) 663–659 BC Unknown 659–658 BC Miltiades 658–645 BC Unknown Pausanias (VIII.39.3) dates the capture of Phigalia by the Spartans to his archonship. 645–644 BC Dropides The Parian Marble associates Dropides with the floruit of Terpander the Lesbian, who developed the music of the lyre. 644–639 BC Unknown 639–638 BC Damasias Thales was born 638–634 BC Unknown 634–633 BC Epaenetus (?)Cadoux notes this entry is based on a surviving passage of Hippys of Rhegion which is very obscure; Hippys states one Epainetos was king at Athens in the 36th Olympiad. However, this statement is full of mistakes which makes Cadooux suspicious of this passage. ("Athenian Archons", p. 91) 633–632 BC Unknown 632–631 BC Megacles Cylon attempts to become tyrant 631–624 BC Unknown 624–623 BC Aristaechmus According to the Athenian Constitution, Dracon reformed the laws of Athens during the archonship of Aristaechmus. 623–621 BC Unknown
Reorganized