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[3] The last of these three offices established was that of the Archon, the institution of which is dated by a majority of authorities in the time of Medon,1 though some put it in that of Acastus,2 adducing in evidence the fact that the Nine Archons swear that they will perform their oaths even as in the time of Acastus, showing that in his time the house of Codrus retired from the Kingship in return for the privileges bestowed on the Archon.3 Whichever of the two accounts is true, it would make very little difference in the dates; but that this was the last of these offices to be instituted is also indicated by the fact that the Archon does not administer any of the ancestral rites, as do the King and the War-lord, but merely the duties added later; on account of which also the Archonship only became great in recent times, when augmented by the added duties.

1 Son of Codrus (see Aristot. Ath. Pol. Fr. 7 above) and life-archon.

2 Medon's successor.

3 Or, with Sandys's reading, 'corresponding privileges being (at the same time) assigned to the Archon.'

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