The Prytanies were the 50 magistrates who presided over meetings of the ecclesia in ancient Athenian democracy. Ten sets of prytanies served each year, each set being composed of the delegates to the Boule from one of the ten Cleisthenic tribes (a position granted by sortition). Each tribe's delegation would preside over all meetings of the assembly that occurred in the state month assigned to their tribe. From that group of 50, one individual would be selected each day to preside over the Boule, and, if it met, the ecclesia, as epistates.
References
Hignett, Charles. A History of the Athenian Constitution (Oxford, 1962) ISBN 0-19-814213-7
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