Politarch
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Politarch_inscription%2C_Golden_Gate_Thessaloniki%2C_before_1874.png/220px-Politarch_inscription%2C_Golden_Gate_Thessaloniki%2C_before_1874.png)
Politarch(Greek:πολιτάρχης,politarches;plural πολιτάρχαι,politarchai) was aHellenisticandRoman-eraMacedoniantitle for an elected governor (archon) of a city (polis). The term had been already attested in theActs of the Apostles(17:6,8) concerningThessalonica,as well inmodern archaeology.The institution is called Politarchate and the variantptoliarchosappears in a poetic epigram. The first evidence of the title is dated to the reign ofPerseus[1][2][3]inAmphipolis,where the king with two politarchs honouredArtemis Tauropolosafter a Thracian campaign. One of the earliest extantinscriptionsto use the term "Politarch" was located on the Vardar Gate inThessaloniki.The Gate was unfortunately destroyed in 1876 but the inscription, which dates to the 2nd Century AD, can now been seen in theBritish Museumin London.[4]
The title was also used for the local commissioners of the Greek provisional government during theGreek War of Independence.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Amphipolis— 179 BC? —SEG 31.614
- ^Archaeology and the New Testament By John McRay Page 295ISBN0-8010-6267-5
- ^Macedonian Institutions Under the Kings: Page 135 By Miltiadēs V. ChatzopoulosISBN960-7094-89-1
- ^British Museum Collection
- The Book of Acts in Its Graeco-Roman Setting Pages 420-430 By David W. J. Gill, Conrad GempfISBN0-8028-4847-8
- The Macedonian Politarchsin jstor.org