Archon, << AHR kon, >> was the title of certain high-ranking administrators in many of the city-states of ancient Greece. Archons handled various executive and judicial duties. In Athens, three archons originally were chosen from prominent families to serve life terms. Beginning in 682 B.C., the people of Athens elected nine archons from the population at large to serve one-year terms. Archons were chosen by lot after 487 B.C. See also Areopagus ; Athens (Earliest times) .
