Definition of prytany in English:

noun

• 1(in ancient Greece) each of the ten divisions of the Athenian Council of Five Hundred.

  Example sentences

  • ‘The prytany rotated on each tenth of the year and was responsible for the daily operation of the city-state.’
  • ‘The year was divided into ten parts, and one tenth of the council, the Prytany, would meet during each period.’

  1. 1.1A period of five weeks for which each of the prytanies presided in turn.
     Example sentences

     • ‘In the 4th century, there were 40 regularly scheduled meetings of the Assembly each year, four in each prytany (each prytany was one tenth of the year).’
     • ‘In the 4th century, the boule scheduled 4 meetings during each prytany. Since a prytany was about 1/10 of a year, this means there were 40 Assembly meetings.’