a public officer among the ancient Greeks, whose business it was to preside over and direct the aims and provisions allotted for the poor. Cornelius Nepos, in his Life of Epaminondas, describes the office thus: When any person was reduced to poverty, taken captive, or had a daughter to marry, which he could not effect for want of money, the eranarcha called an assembly of friends and neighbours, and taxed each according to his means and estate, in order to contribute towards the relief of such person or persons.