.
TEICHOPOEI (τειχοποιοί). Among the various persons to whom was entrusted the management of public works at Athens (ἐπιστάται δημοσίων ἔργων). were those whose business it was to build and keep in repair the public walls. It is needless to observe how important to the city of Athens were her walls and fortifications, more especially the long walls, which connected the upper city with the Peiraeus, and which gave it the advantages of an island. These were maintained at considerable expense. The τειχοποιοὶ appear to have been elected by χειροτονία, one from each tribe, and, like other similar officers, for a year. They were considered to hold a magisterial office (ἀρχή), and in that capacity had a ἡγεμονία δικαστηρίου. Aeschines calls them ἐπιστάται τοῦ μεγίστου τῶν ἔργων. Funds were put at their disposal, for which they had their treasurer (ταμίας), dependent on the treasurer of the revenue (Aeschin. c. Ctes. § 27). They were liable to render an account (εὔθυναι) of their management of these funds, and also of their general conduct, like other magistrates. The office of τειχοποιὸς has been invested with peculiar interest in modern times, on account of its having been held by Demosthenes, and its having given occasion to the famous prosecution of Ctesiphon, who proposed that Demosthenes should receive the honour of a crown before he had rendered his account according to law. As to the nature of the office, and the laws thereto relating, we may probably rely upon the account given by Aeschines. (Aeschin. c. Ctes. § § 14, 17, 24; cf. documents (doubtful) ap. Dem. de Cor. p. 243.55, p. 266.118; Boeckh, P. E. pp. 170, 203 = Sthh.3 1.211, 257.)
Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities
| Ancient Greece
Science, Technology , Medicine , Warfare, , Biographies , Life , Cities/Places/Maps , Arts , Literature , Philosophy ,Olympics, Mythology , History , Images Medieval Greece / Byzantine Empire Science, Technology, Arts, , Warfare , Literature, Biographies, Icons, History Modern Greece Cities, Islands, Regions, Fauna/Flora ,Biographies , History , Warfare, Science/Technology, Literature, Music , Arts , Film/Actors , Sport , Fashion --- |
