GRAMMĂTEUS

( γραμματεύς ), a clerk or scribe. Among the great number of scribes employed by the magistrates and government of Athens, there were three of a higher rank, who were real state-officers. One of them was appointed by lot, by the senate, to serve the time of the administration of each prytany, though he always belonged to a different prytany from that which was in power. He was, therefore, called γραμματεὺς κατὰ πρυτανείαν . His province was to keep the public records, and the decrees of the people which were made during the time of his office, and to deliver to the thesmothetae the decrees of the senate.—The second gram mate us was elected by the senate, by χειροτονία , and was entrusted with the custody of the laws. His usual name was γραμματεὺς τῆς βουλῆς .—A third gram mate us was called γραμματεὺς τῆς πόλεως , or γραμματεὺς τῆς βουλῆς καὶ τοῦ δήμου . He was appointed by the people, by χειροτονία , and the principal part of his office was to read any laws or documents which were required to be read in the a embly or in the senate.