MASTĪGŎPHŎRI

or MASTĪGŎNOMI ( μαστιγοφόροι or μαστιγονόμοι ), the name of the lower police officers in the Greek states, who carried into execution the corporal punishments inflicted by the higher magistrates. In the theatre the mastigophori preserved order, and were stationed for this purpose in the orchestra, near the thymele. In the Olympic games the ῥαβδοῦχοι performed the same duties. At Athens they were discharged by the public slaves, called bowmen ( τοξόται ), or Scythians ( Σκύθαι ). [ Demosii . ]