CHAP. VIII

Summary

On the Cosmi of Crete, Prytanes of Corinth, &c. On the Artynœ and Demiurgi in other cities.

1. The cosmi of Crete are compared by Aristotle, Ephorus, and Cicero, with the ephors of Lacedæmon. We are first led to suspect the correctness of this comparison by the fact that the larger part of the extensive power of the ephoralty did not exist in the ancient constitution of Sparta, and consequently there could not have been any thing corresponding with it in the sister constitution of Crete. This conjecture is still further confirmed when we remember that the cosmi were chosen from particular families, rather according to their dignity than their personal merits. For to take away from the office of ephors their election from among the people would be to give up its most essential characteristic. If then we abandon this comparison, it will be necessary to find some other analogous office, on account of the great similarity between the two constitutions, and it will then appear that the parallel magistrates to the cosmi in the Spartan government were the kings; whom indeed the cosmi appear to have succeeded, as the prytanes, artynæ, &c. in other states, the expiring monarchical dignity having been replaced by an aristocratical magistrate.

This assertion is confirmed by whatever knowledge we have of the powers of the cosmi, which indeed chiefly regards their influence in foreign affairs.