προστάτης

προστάτης, ου, ὁ, (προΐστημι) A. one who stands before, front-rank man, f.l. for πρωτοστάτης in X. Cyr. 3.3.41, Eq.Mag. 2.2,6:—but elsewh., II. leader, chief, esp. of a democracy, προστάτεω ἐπιλαβέσθαι Hdt. 1.127, 5.23; οἱ π. τοῦ δήμου Th. 3.75, 4.46,66; οἱ τῶν δήμων π. Id. 3.82; ὁ π. Κλέων Ar. Ra. 569, cf. Eq. 1128 (lyr.); μεταβολὴ ἐκ προστάτου ἐπὶ τύραννον Pl. R. 565d; [Σόλων] πρῶτος τοῦ δήμου π. Arist. Ath. 2.2,al. 2. generally, ruler, opp. ἀστοί, A. Supp. 963; Καδμείων Id. Th. 1031; Κνωσίων Arr. Epict. 3.9.3; Μολοσσῶν GDI 1334 (Epirus, iii B.C.); χώρας, χθονός, E. Heracl. 964, IA 373 (troch.); τῆς Ἑλλάδος προστάται, of the Spartans, X. HG 3.1.3, cf. Isoc. 4.103, D. 9.23; π. τοῦ ἐμπορίου, of Greeks in Egypt, Hdt. 2.178; τοῦ πολέμου X. Cyr. 7.2.23; προστάται τῆς εἰρήνης its chief authors, Id. HG 5.1.36; τῆς πρὸς τοὺς θεοὺς ἐπιμελείας π. D. 22.78; administrator, τῆς κεχωρισμένης προσόδου PTeb. 81.19 (ii B.C.); [τοῦ ἱεροῦ] OGI 531.3 (Bithynia, iii A.D.); θεᾶς ib.209.4 (Philae, iii A.D.), cf. Ostr. 412, al. (i A.D.): metaph., ἔρως π. τῶν ἀργῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν Pl. R. 572e. 3. president or presiding officer, π. τοῦ γυμνασίου CIG 2881.16 (Branchidae), cf. OGI 130.16 (Egypt, ii B.C.), Supp.Epigr. 4.598.37 (Teos, i B.C.), IG 22.1368.13; π. συνεδρίου ib.9(2).205.33 (Aetolian League); προβούλων ib.9(1).694.116 (Corc.); [γερουσίας] ib.7.2808 (Hyettus, iii B.C.); δαμιοργῶν ib.5(1).1425.16 (Messene); [βουλᾶς] ib.14.256.5 (Phintias); τῆς μέσης Ἀκαδημίας S.E. P. 1.232: freq. in pl., = πρυτάνεις, SIG 194.15 (Amphipolis, iv B.C.), etc.; γνώμα προστατᾶν ib.187.1 (Cnidus, iv B.C.), cf. IG 12(8).264.13 (Thasos, iv B.C.). III. one who stands before and protects, guardian, champion, πυλωμάτων A. Th. 408, cf. 798; πόλεως Pl. Grg. 519b; [τῆς ποιητικῆς] Id. R. 607d; τῆς πάντων ἐλευθερίας D. 15.30, etc.; epith. of gods, as Apollo, S. Tr. 209 (lyr.), IPE 12.89 (ii A.D.). 2. at Athens, etc., patron who took charge of the interests of μέτοικοι, etc.: hence ἐπὶ προστάτου οἰκεῖν live under protection of a patron, Lys. 31.9, 14, Lycurg. 145; προστάτην ἐπιγράφειν τινά choose as oneʼs patron, Luc. Peregr. 11; αὑτῷ πονηρὸν προστάτην ἐπεγράψατο Ar. Pax 684; ἔχειν Id. Pl. 920, cf. S. OT 882 (lyr.); νέμειν π. Arist. Pol. 1275a13; also γράφεσθαι προστάτου to be entered by oneʼs patronʼs name, be attached to a patron, οὐ Κρέοντος προστάτου γεγράφομαι S. OT 411. 3. = Lat. patronus, Plu. Rom. 13, Mar. 5, IG 3.687, 14.1078 (Rome, iii A.D.), OGI 549.6 (Ancyra, iii A.D.), etc. IV. θεοῦ π. one who stands before a god to entreat him, suppliant, S. OC 1278, cf. 1171. V. Medic., prostate gland, Herophil. ap. Gal. UP 14.11 (v.l.).