Ἄρχειν
to hold office
Translated by Jennifer Benedict8 Apr 2001Vetting: high7 revisions
Translation
In more common parlance they1 even used to call minor responsibilities and tasks "offices", and to have served on the council2 [could be termed] "to have held office"; for [it is] a light responsibility. Aristophanes [writes]: "does not the city then purposely appoint jurors to hold office?"3
Greek original · Adler’s text
Ἄρχειν· κοινότερον καὶ τὰς μικρὰς ἐπιστασίας καὶ λειτουργίας ἀρχὰς ἔλεγον, καὶ τὸ βουλεῦσαι ἄρξαι· ψιλὴ γὰρ ἐπιστασία. Ἀριστοφάνης· οὐκοῦν δικαστὰς ἐξεπίτηδες ἡ πόλις ἄρχειν καθίστησιν.