ἄρχων

A. ruler, commander, νεός Hdt. 5.33: abs., A. Th. 674, S. Aj. 668, etc.; chief, king, Ἀσίας A. Pers. 73; ἄ. τοῦ κόσμου τούτου, of Satan, Ev.Jo. 16.11, al.

II. as official title, chief magistrate, esp. at Athens, Th. 1.126, etc.; οἱ ἐννέα ἄρχοντες IG 2.163; οἱ ἄ., at Sparta, the authorities, Hdt. 6.106: sg., ὁ ἄρχων the eponymous magistrate of the year, IG 1.52, al., Arist. Ath. 3.3, etc.; so in Boeotia, at Delphi, Delos, and elsewhere, IG 7.2407, SIG 295.18, IG 2.814, etc.; = Lat. consul, Plb. 1.39.1.

2. governor of a dependency or province, e.g. in the Athenian Empire, IG 1.62b19, etc.; of a Roman governor, OGI 441.59; = praefectus, Plb. 6.26.5.

3. generally, magistrate, official, Aeschin. 3.29, etc.; opp. ἰδιώτης, SIG 672.16 (Delph.); ruler of a synagogue, Ev.Matt. 9.18; president of a club, PLond. 3.1178.6 (ii A. D.).