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The greatest position that
any citizen in the, male or female, city could occupy  was
that of "Prytan." This person maintained the eternal flame
from the city fireplace that was the symbol of the city and the
place from which everyone lit their fireplaces at home. The lucky
person performed his duty in the name of the goddess Hespian. All
expenses were met by the Prytan himself. The operating of the Temple
to Artemis was outside this temple system. The Prytaneion was a
large, covered room with a large portcullis. At the front were eight
large Doric columns which completed the temple appearance. The
eternal flame of Hestia burned for centuries. The figure of Artemis
that is in the museum was found here intact. Among the pieces found
scattered around the site was a list of the "Union of
Curates".
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At first only six, the number of curates increased to
nine, these were a class of priests at the Temple to Artemis.The Praytaneion was first
built in the 3rd century BC and brought to its final state at the
time of Augustos. There were two-figured pedestals on either side of
the road leading to the Square of Domitian. |
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