Book of the Magistrates of the Athenians

Hadrian, at whose time he was writing. But elsewhere we shall reason of the Eponymous name-giving magistrate. Having known the people and said its parts, it is time to come to the reasoning of their Magistrates.

In what way the Magistrates of Athens were elected.

In three manners was the custom of electing the magistrates: with the lot, with the balloting of the people, and with the election by dignity. By lot were elected all the magistrates who were proposed to judge, just as is elected in Venice the Doge and almost all the other magistrates, but elsewhere we shall render the reason for it. The Senate that was elected in such a manner was called the council of 500 men. With the ballotings of the People were created the Captains, the Tribunes of the soldiers, and the Generals of both maritime and terrestrial wars. Those then who were elected by dignity, for wealth and for nobility, were called Choregi sponsors of festivals, and they served the games and the sacrifices, in which office they used greatly their liberality, spending from their own. These were no more than ten, among whom Demosthenes Greek orator shows having been in the Oration against Meidias. It is seen that the Republic was embraced by these three manners of ties. Because from the injury of domestic, neighbor, and foreign [enemies] the judges defend, the soldiers preserve and increase the borders, and religion keeps the souls purified and clean. Now I will treat in order how these dignities were offered, beginning the order from the Areopagites.

Of the Senate of the Areopagites. Chapter IIII.