<TEI xmlns="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0" xmlns:py="http://codespeak.net/lxml/objectify/pytype" py:pytype="TREE"><text><body><div type="translation" xml:lang="eng" n="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0028.tlg006.perseus-eng2"><div type="textpart" subtype="section" xml:base="urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0028.tlg006.perseus-eng2" n="45"><p>Ordinarily, anyone who has not time enough under one archon <add>registers his charge as soon as he can under the next</add>. But the prosecution, who were perfectly familiar with the laws concerned and could see that I was a member of the Council and used the Council-chamber —why, in that very chamber itself stands a shrine of Zeus the Councillor and Athena the Councillor, where members offer prayers as they enter; and I was one of those members: I did as they did: in their company I entered all our other sanctuaries: I offered sacrifices and prayers on behalf of this city: nay more, I acted as a Prytanis for the whole of the first Prytany save two days<note resp="editor">The <foreign xml:lang="grc">βουλή</foreign> was divided into ten sections, each representing a tribe. Each section took it in turn to act as presidents (<foreign xml:lang="grc">πρυτάνεις</foreign>) for a period known as a <foreign xml:lang="grc">πρυτανεία</foreign>(one tenth of the year) at meetings of both the <foreign xml:lang="grc">βουλή</foreign> and the <foreign xml:lang="grc">ἐκκλησία</foreign>. The <foreign xml:lang="grc">πρυτάνεις</foreign> themselves were under the presidency of one of their number known as an <foreign xml:lang="grc">ἐπιστάτης</foreign> who was selected by lot. It was he who put motions to the vote in the Assembly. The Choregus was clearly <foreign xml:lang="grc">ἐπιστάτης</foreign> during his Prytany.</note>: I was to be seen sacrificing and making offerings on behalf of our sovereign people: I was to be seen putting motions to the vote: I was to be seen voicing my opinion on the most momentous, the most vital public questions. </p></div></div></body></text></TEI>