in Grecian antiquity, were the presidents of the senate, whose authority consisted chiefly in assembling the senate; which, for the most part, was done once every day.

The senate consisted of 500, 50 senators being elected out of each tribe: after which, lots were cast to determine in what order the senators of each tribe should preside; which they did by turns, and during their presidency were called prytanes. However, all the 50 prytanes of the tribes did not govern at once, but one at a time, viz. for seven days; and after 35 days, another tribe came into play, and presided for other five weeks; and so of the rest.