amongst the Athenians, were ten in number, elected by lot to plead public causes in the senate-house or assembly. For every cause in which they were retained, they received a drachm out of the public money. They were sometimes called Συντάκται, and their fee ῥοῦσιν. No man was admitted to this office before he was 40 years of age, though others say 30. Valour in war, piety to their parents, prudence in their affairs, frugality, and temperance, were necessary qualifications for this office, and every candidate underwent an examination concerning these virtues, previous to the election. The orators at Rome were not unlike the Athenian rhetores. See ORATOR.

RHETORICIANS, a sect of heretics in Egypt, so denominated from Rhetorius their leader. The distinguishing tenets of this heresiarch, as represented by Philastrius, was, that he approved of all the heresies before him, and taught that they were all in the right.