DĒMŎSĬI

( δημόσιοι ), public slaves at Athens, who were purchased by the state. The public slaves, most frequently mentioned, formed the city guard; it was their duty to preserve order in the public a embly, and to remove any person whom the prytaneis might order. They are generally called bowmen ( τοξόται ); or from the native country of the majority, Scythians ( Σκύθαι ); and also Speusinians, from the name of the person who first established the force. They originally lived in tents in the market-place, and afterwards upon the Areiopagus. Their officers had the name of toxarchs ( τόξαρχοι ). Their number was at first 300, purchased soon after the battle of Salamis, but was afterwards increased to 1200.