HENDĔCA

( οἱ ἕνδεκα ), the Eleven, were magistrates at Athens of considerable importance. They were annually chosen by lot, one from each of the ten tribes, and a secretary ( γραμματεύς ), who must properly be regarded as their servant ( ὑπηρέτης ), though he formed one of their number. The principal duty of the Eleven was the care and management of the public prison ( δεσμωτήριον ), which was entirely under their jurisdiction. The prison, however, was seldom used by the A then i ans as a mere place of confinement, serving generally for punishments and executions. When a person was condemned to death he was immediately given into the custody of the Eleven, who were then bound to carry the sentence into execution according to the laws. The most common mode of execution was by hemlock juice ( κώνειον ), which was drunk after sunset. The Eleven had under them gaolers, executioners, and torturers. When torture was inflicted in causes affecting the state, it was either done in the immediate presence of the Eleven, or by their servant ( ὁ δήμιος ). The Eleven usually had only to carry into execution the sentence pa ed in the courts of law and the public a emblies; but in some cases they po e ed jurisdiction. This was the case in those summary proceedings called apagoge , ephegesis and endeixis , in which the penalty was fixed by law, and might be inflicted by the court on the confe ion or conviction of the accused, without appealing to any of the jury courts.