Archon (English spelling)

Japanese: アルコン（英語表記）archōn

The archon system was the highest rank found in many ancient Greek cities. In Athens, the system began in 682 BC, marking the end of the monarchy. In the 5th and 4th centuries BC, there were nine archons, including the chief archon used in the names of the calendars, the military commander Polemarchus, the basileus (king) in charge of religious services, and six legal registrars in charge of the judiciary. They were elected for a one-year term and could not be reappointed, and were initially chosen from noble families, but under Solon, they were opened to the wealthiest classes, and in 487/6 BC, they were expanded to the second class of knights and elected by lottery. From this time, real power was transferred to generals who could be reappointed through direct election, and the archons became judicial officers, and their role was reduced to merely conducting preliminary examinations before jury trials. In 458/7 BC, the selection was expanded to the third class of farmers, and by Aristotle's time, people from the fourth class of workers could also be elected. A double lottery system was introduced and qualification screening was put in place, but under a thoroughly democratic system, their importance has greatly decreased.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

「指導者」「支配者」を意味し，古代ギリシアの多数のポリスにみられた最高官。アテネではアルコンの制度が前 682年に始って，王政が終ったとされる。前5～4世紀には紀年の名に使われる筆頭アルコン，軍事指揮官たるポレマルコス，祭祀を扱うバシレウス (王) ，司法にあたる6人の法律記録官など9人のアルコンがいた。任期1年で再任できず，最初は名門から選ばれたが，ソロンのとき最富裕層に解放され，前 487/6年には第2の騎士級に広げられくじ引きになった。この頃から直接選挙で重任可能な将軍に実権が移り，アルコンは司法官になり，しかも陪審裁判前の予備審査を行うにすぎなくなった。前 458/7年に選出は第3の農民級まで広げられ，アリストテレスの頃は事実上第4の労働者級の人もなれた。2重くじ引きになり，資格審査が設けられたりしたが徹底民主政下では重要性は非常に低下した。

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