Eponymous archon

In ancient Greece the chief magistrate in various Greek city states was called eponymous archon. "Archon" means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office, while "eponymous" means that he gave his name to the year in which he held office, much like the Roman dating by consular years.
In Classical Athens, a system of nine concurrent archons evolved, led by three respective remits over the civic, military, and religious affairs of the state: the three office holders were known as the eponymous archon, the polemarch, and the archon basileus. The six others were the thesmothetai, judicial officers. Originally these offices were filled from the wealthier classes by elections every ten years. During this period the eponymous archon was the chief magistrate, the polemarch was the head of the armed forces, and the archon basileus was responsible for some civic religious arrangements, and for the supervision of some major trials in the law courts. After 683 BC the offices were held for only a single year, and the year was named after the eponymous archon.

Background

The archon was the chief magistrate in many Greek cities, but in Athens there was a council of archons which exerted a form of executive government. From the late 8th century BC there were three archons: the archon eponymos, the polemarchos, and the archon basileus. These positions were filled from the aristocracy by elections every ten years. During this period Archon Eponymous was the chief magistrate, the Polemarch was the head of the armed forces, and the Archon Basileus was responsible for the civic religious arrangements.
After 683 BC the offices were held for only a single year, and the year was named after the archon eponymous. The year ran from July to June. The archon eponymous was the chief archon, and presided over meetings of the Boule and Ecclesia, the ancient Athenian assemblies. The archon eponymous remained the titular head of state even under the democracy, though with much reduced political importance. Under the reforms of Solon, himself archon eponymous in 594 BC, there was a brief period when the number of archons rose to ten. After 457 BC ex-archons were automatically enrolled as life members of the Areopagus, though that assembly was no longer extremely important politically.
One of the archons oversaw the procedure for ostracism after 487 BC. An archon's court was in charge of the epikleroi. Other duties of the archons included supervising the Panathenaea and Dionysia festivals.

List of archons of Athens

In the following list of Archons, years where the name of the archon is unknown are identified as such. Years listed as "anarchy" mean that there was literally "no archon". There are various conflicting reconstructions of lists; sources for this list are given at the end. Note that the term of an archon covered two of our years, beginning in the spring or summer and continuing into the next spring or summer. The polemarch or strategoi, basileus, and thesmothetai are also listed, where known.

Archaic period

Life archons

The later Athenian tradition varies on the exact position of this line; they held archonship for life, sometimes referred to as "Perpetual Archon", and exercised the sacral powers of kingship, as did the archon basileus later. The historicity of any of this ancient list may be reasonably doubted. However, Aristotle indicates, within the Constitution of Athens, that it was indeed the house of Codrus that abolished the title of king in favor of Archon.

Year	Archon	Other notable information
1068–1048 BC	Medon	First ruler of Attica after the period of the Kings.
1048–1012 BC	Acastus	Troy VIIb₂ destroyed.
1012–993 BC	Archippus
993–952 BC	Thersippus
952–922 BC	Phorbas	Troy VIIb₃: deserted
922–892 BC	Megacles
892–864 BC	Diognetus
864–845 BC	Pherecles	Homer composes the Iliad and Odyssey.
845–825 BC	Ariphron
824–797 BC	Thespieus
796–778 BC	Agamestor
778–755 BC	Aeschylus	First Olympiad
755–753 BC	Alcmaeon

Decennial archons

In 753 BC the perpetual archonship by the Eupatridae was limited to 10 years :

Year	Archon	Other notable information
753–743 BC	Charops	In Rome, Romulus, the first ruler of the city, takes power.
743–733 BC	Aesimides	In Messenia, First Messenian War begins.
733–723 BC	Clidicus	Diaulos footrace introduced at the Olympics.
723–713 BC	Hippomenes
713–703 BC	Leocrates
703–693 BC	Apsander	Hesiod writes "Theogony".
693–683 BC	Eryxias	Boxing added to the Olympics. Chalcedon colony founded.

Annual archons

After 683 BC the archonship was limited to one year. Archons resided in the Prytaneion.

Year	Eponymous archon	Other officials or associated events
682–681 BC	Creon	Creon is considered by the ancient sources, and most modern authorities, as the first annual archon.
681–680 BC	Lysiades	Mentioned in the Parian Marble.
680–679 BC	Tlesias	Pausanias dates the beginning of the Second Messenian War to his archonship.
679–671 BC	Unknown
671–670 BC	Leostratus
670–669 BC	Unknown
669–668 BC	Pisistratus	Pausanias dates the first Battle of Hysiae to his archonship.
668–667 BC	Autosthenes	Pausanias dates the capture of Eira and the end of the Second Messenian War to his archonship.
667–664 BC	Unknown
664–663 BC	Miltiades
663–659 BC	Unknown
659–658 BC	Miltiades
658–645 BC	Unknown	Pausanias dates the capture of Phigalia by the Spartans to his archonship.
645–644 BC	Dropides	The Parian Marble associates Dropides with the floruit of Terpander the Lesbian, who developed the music of the lyre.
644–639 BC	Unknown
639–638 BC	Damasias	Thales was born
638–634 BC	Unknown
634–633 BC	Epaenetus
633–632 BC	Unknown
632–631 BC	Megacles	Cylon attempts to become tyrant
631–624 BC	Unknown
624–623 BC	Aristaechmus	According to the Athenian Constitution, Dracon reformed the laws of Athens during the archonship of Aristaechmus.
623–621 BC	Unknown

Reorganized

Classical period

Year	Year Olympiads	Archon	Other officials or notable events
	75.1	Calliades	Second Persian invasion of Greece. Aristides and Themistocles are strategoi.
479–478	75.2	Xanthippus	Battle of Plataea; Aristides is strategos
478–477	75.3	Timosthenes	Delian League founded.
477–476	75.4	Adimantus
476–475	76.1	Phaedon
475–474	76.2	Dromoclides
474–473	76.3	Acestorides
473–472	76.4	Menon
472–471	77.1	Chares
471–470	77.2	Praxiergus
470–469	77.3	Demotion
469–468	77.4	Apsephion
468–467	78.1	Theagenides
467–466	78.2	Lysistratus
466–465	78.3	Lysanias
465–464	78.4	Lysitheus	Sophanes is a strategos
464–463	79.1	Archedemides	Aeschylus' Danaids Trilogy produced.
463–462	79.2	Tlepolemus	Cimon is a strategos
462–461	79.3	Conon	According to the Athenian Constitution, Ephialtes reforms the Areopagus, and is assassinated.
461–460	79.4	Euthippus	Also spelled Euippos.
460–459	80.1	Phrasicles
459–458	80.2	Philocles	Phrynicus, Dicaeogenes and Hippodamas are strategoi.
458–457	80.3	Habron	So Diodorus Siculus ; other authorities state the eponymous archon for this year was Bion.
457–456	80.4	Mnesitheides
456–455	81.1	Callias
455–454	81.2	Sosistratus
454–453	81.3	Ariston
453–452	81.4	Lysicrates
452–451	82.1	Chairephanes	Diodorus skips over Chairephanes and dates the events of his archonship to the previous year
451–450	82.2	Antidotus	Anaxicrates and Cimon are strategoi
450–449	82.3	Euthydemus
449–448	82.4	Pedieus	Second Sacred War begins.
448–447	83.1	Philiscus	Pericles, Tolmides and Epiteles are strategoi; Peace of Callias ends the Greco-Persian Wars
447–446	83.2	Timarchides	Construction of the Parthenon begins.
446–445	83.3	Callimachus
445–444	83.4	Lysimachides	Peace between Athens and Sparta. Age of Pericles begins.
444–443	84.1	Praxiteles	Pericles is a strategos
443–442	84.2	Lysanias	Pericles is a strategos
442–441	84.3	Diphilus	Pericles is a strategos
441–440	84.4	Timocles	Pericles and Glaucon are strategoi
440–439	85.1	Morychides	Pericles is a strategos
439–438	85.2	Glaucinus	Also spelled Glaucidus. Pericles is a strategos
438–437	85.3	Theodorus	Pericles is a strategos
437–436	85.4	Euthymenes	Pericles is a strategos. Construction of the Propylaea begins
436–435	86.1	Lysimachus	So Diodorus Siculus ; other authorities state the eponymous archon for this year was Nausimachos. Pericles is a strategos
435–434	86.2	Antiochides	Also spelled Antilochidos. Pericles is a strategos
434–433	86.3	Crates	Also spelled Chares. Pericles is a strategos
433–432	86.4	Apseudes	Pericles, Lacedaemonius, Diotimus, and Proteas are strategoi
432–431	87.1	Pythodorus	Beginning of the Peloponnesian War, according to Thucydides. Pericles and Callias are strategoi.
431–430	87.2	Euthydemus	Also spelled Euthydemos. Pericles is a strategos.
430–429	87.3	Apollodorus	Pericles dies; Xenophon, Hestiodorus, Calliades, Melesandrus, and Phanomachus are strategoi.
429–428	87.4	Epameinon	Phormio is a strategos.
428–427	88.1	Diotimus	Demosthenes, Asopius, Paches, Cleidippes, and Lysicles are strategoi
427–426	88.2	Eucles	Also spelled Eucleides. Nicias, Charoiades and Procles are strategoi
426–425	88.3	Euthynos	Also called Euthydemos. Laches and Hippocrates are strategoi
425–424	88.4	Stratocles	Nicias, Eurymedon, Pythodorus, and Sophocles are strategoi
424–423	89.1	Isarchus	Demosthenes, Cleon, Thucydides and Hippocrates are strategoi
423–422	89.2	Amynias	Also spelled Ameinias. Cleon is a strategos
422–421	89.3	Alcaeus	Cleon is a strategos
421–420	89.4	Aristion	Construction of the Erechtheion begins.
420–419	90.1	Astyphilus	Alcibiades is strategos
419–418	90.2	Archias
418–417	90.3	Antiphon	Laches and Nicostratus are strategoi
417–416	90.4	Euphemus
416–415	91.1	Arimnestus	Nicias, Alcibiades, and Lamachus are strategoi
415–414	91.2	Charias	Also spelled Chabrias. Alcibiades is a strategos
414–413	91.3	Tisandrus	Lamachus is a strategos
413–412	91.4	Cleocritus	Eurymedon, Demosthenes, and Nicias are strategoi
412–411	92.1	Callias Scambonides
411–410	92.2	Mnasilochus ; Theopompus	Simichus and Aristarchus are strategoi
410–409	92.3	Glaucippus
409–408	92.4	Diocles	Anytus is a strategos
408–407	93.1	Euctemon
407–406	93.2	Antigenes	Alcibiades, Adeimantus, and Aristocrates are strategoi
406–405	93.3	Callias Angelides	Archestratus, Thrasylus, Pericles, Lysias, Diomedon, Aristocrates, Erasinides, Protomachus, and Aristogenes are strategoi
405–404	93.4	Alexias	Battle of Aegospotami. Adeimantus, Eucrates, Philocles, Menandrus, Tydeus, and Cephisodotus are strategoi
404–403	94.1	Pythodorus	Sparta sets up the oligarchy of the Thirty Tyrants; Pythodorus not recognized as Eponymous Archon
403–402	94.2	Eucleides	Thirty Tyrants expelled, democracy reestablished. Old Attic alphabet was officially abolished in favor of the Ionic alphabet of twenty-four letters.
402–401	94.3	Micon	Also spelled Micion.
401–400	94.4	Xenaenetus	Also spelled Exaenetus.
400–399	95.1	Laches
399–398	95.2	Aristocrates
398–397	95.3	Euthycles	Also spelled Ithycles.
397–396	95.4	Souniades
396–395	96.1	Phormion
395–394	96.2	Diophantus
394–393	96.3	Eubulides
393–392	96.4	Demostratos	Adeimantus is a strategos
392–391	97.1	Philocles
391–390	97.2	Nicoteles
390–389	97.3	Demostratus	Thrasybulus and Ergocles are strategoi
389–388	97.4	Antipater	Agyrrhius and Pamphilus are strategoi
388–387	98.1	Pyrgion	Thrasybulus and Dionysius are strategoi
387–386	98.2	Theodotus	Peace of Antalcidas ends the Corinthian War
386–385	98.3	Mystichides
385–384	98.4	Dexitheus
384–383	99.1	Dieitrephes	Also spelled Diotrephes
383–382	99.2	Phanostratus
382–381	99.3	Euandrus
381–380	99.4	Demophilus
380–379	100.1	Pytheas
379–378	100.2	Nicon
378–377	100.3	Nausinicus
377–376	100.4	Calleas	Also spelled Callias.
376–375	101.1	Charisander	Cedon is a strategos.
375–374	101.2	Hippodamas
374–373	101.3	Socratides
373–372	101.4	Asteius	Iphicrates, Callistratus, Chabrias, and Timotheus are strategoi
372–371	102.1	Alcisthenes
371–370	102.2	Phrasicleides
370–369	102.3	Dysnicetus
369–368	102.4	Lysistratus
368–367	103.1	Nausigenes
367–366	103.2	Polyzelus
366–365	103.3	Ciphisodorus	Chabrias is a strategos
365–364	103.4	Chion	Iphicrates is a strategos
364–363	104.1	Timocrates
363–362	104.2	Charicleides	Ergophilus and Callisthenes are strategoi
362–361	104.3	Molon	Leosthenes and Autocles are strategoi.
361–360	104.4	Nicophemus	Timomachus is a strategos
360–359	105.1	Callimides	Menon, Timotheus, and Cephisodotus are strategoi
359–358	105.2	Eucharistus
358–357	105.3	Cephisodotus
357–356	105.4	Agathocles	Chabrias is a strategos.
356–355	106.1	Elpines	Iphicrates, Timotheus, and Menestheus are strategoi.
355–354	106.2	Callistratus
354–353	106.3	Diotemus
353–352	106.4	Thudemus
352–351	107.1	Aristodemus
351–350	107.2	Theellus	Theogenes is Basileus
350–349	107.3	Apollodorus
349–348	107.4	Callimachus	Hegesileus is a strategos
348–347	108.1	Theophilus
347–346	108.2	Themistocles	Proxenus is a strategos
346–345	108.3	Archias
345–344	108.4	Eubulus
344–343	109.1	Lyciscus	Phocion is a strategos.
343–342	109.2	Pythodotus
342–341	109.3	Sosigenes
341–340	109.4	Nicomachus
340–339	110.1	Theophrastus	Phocion is a strategos
339–338	110.2	Lysimachides	Phocion is a strategos, and is defeated by Philip II of Macedon
338–337	110.3	Chaerondas	Lysicles is a strategos
337–336	110.4	Phrynichus
336–335	111.1	Pythodelos	Also spelled Pythodoros, served as Archon the same year as Philip II of Macedon was assassinated.
335–334	111.2	Euaenetus
334–333	111.3	Ctesicles
333–332	111.4	Nicocrates
332–331	112.1	Nicetes	Also spelled Niceratos
331–330	112.2	Aristophanes
330–329	112.3	Aristophon
329–328	112.4	Cephisophon
328–327	113.1	Euthicritus
327–326	113.2	Hegemon
326–325	113.3	Chremes
325–324	113.4	Anticles	Philocles is a strategos
324–323	114.1	Hegesias	Also spelled Agesias
323–322	114.2	Cephisodorus	Also spelled Cephisophon. Phocion and Leosthenes are strategoi. Battle of Amorgos signals the end of Athenian sea power.
322–321	114.3	Philocles	End of the Lamian War. Restriction of voting rights and installation of a Macedonian garrison in the Piraeus.