EPHETÆ, judges who in early times presided over the five criminal courts of justice at Athens, taking cognizance of every description of homicide. They were fifty-one in number, and required to be of noble birth. Solon first separated the Areopagus from the other four courts; and from this time the jurisdiction of the ephetæ was confined to cases of unintentional or justifiable homicide. It formed part of their duty to see that the person who had committed the act should be properly expiated by sacrifice and other rites. He was obliged to leave his country, by a particular road, for a certain time, which was generally eight years, though at Athens it was probably undetermined. During this time he was bound to keep at a distance from places of public resort; and when he returned, a reconciliation took place, either with the indred, or certain chosen ploratores. (See Plutarch, Solon, 29; Pollux, viii. 125.)