προεδρία

A. privilege of the front seats at public games, in theatres, in the public assemblies, bestowed as an honour on distinguished foreigners, ἀτελείη καὶ π. Hdt. 1.54, 9.73, cf. Ar. Th. 834, X. Vect. 3.4(pl.), Decr.Byz. ap. D. 18.91; προεδρίην[ι] e)n a)gw=sin a)/roito Xenoph. 2.7; on ambassadors, Aeschin. 3.76; on citizens who had deserved well of their country, and (sometimes) on their descendants, Ar. Eq. 575,702; freq. in Inscrr., π. ἐν τῷ θεάτρῳ IG 22.1214.19, cf. SIG 1003.13 (Priene, ii B.C.), etc.; π. τῶν ἀγώνων Pl. Lg. 881b; προεδρίαι ἐν ταῖς πανηγύρεσι ib.946e: hence, generally, authority, εἰσὶν ἐν π. Arist. Pol. 1292a9; precedence, place, π. ἀπονέμεσθαί τινι Hdn. 1.8.4; ἐκστῆναι τῆς π. Plu. 2.535b: in pl., Arist. Rh. 1361a35: metaph., τὸν αὐλὸν εἰς τιμὴν καὶ π. ἄγοντες Plu. Pel. 19; προεδρίας ἐτυγχάνομεν we received attention, respectful treatment, PSI 4.380.3 (iii B.C.), cf. Sammelb. 5942.12 (iii B.C.); later, care, τῶν πραγμάτων πολλῆς π. δεομένων BGU 747 i 15 (ii A.D.); π. τῆς κοιλίης Aret. CD 1.3.

2. in concrete sense, front seat, Δαρεῖον ἐν π. κατήμενον on a chair of state, Hdt. 4.88; ἐν τοῖσι ἀγῶσι π. ἐξαιρέτους Id. 6.57; ἐς τὴν π. πᾶς ἀνὴρ ὠστίζεται Ar. Ach. 42: esp., at Athens, seats of the πρυτάνεις in the Ecclesia, ἡ π. τῶν πρυτάνεων Din. 2.13.