prytaneum

[ prit-n-ee-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a public building in ancient Greece, containing the symbolic hearth of the community and commonly resembling a private dwelling in plan, used as a community meeting place and as a lodging for guests of the community.

prytaneum

/ ˌprɪtəˈniːəm /

1590–1600; < Latin prytanēum < Greek prytaneîon, akin to prýtanis prince, ruler, chief

Latin, from Greek prutaneion, from prutanis, prutaneus

The Colacretae, who had done this work before, remained in authority over the internal expenses of the Prytaneum.

The court in the precincts of the Prytaneum, to the north of the Acropolis, was only of ceremonial importance.

A prytaneum in a Greek city was a building belonging to the community, on the altar of which was kept the ever-burning fire.

The proper reward is that I should be maintained in the Prytaneum as a public benefactor.

Another peculiarity of Solon's laws was the public dining-table in the prytaneum.

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