Aeinautae

''Aeinautae'' ( grc, Ἀειναῦται, ''Aeinautai'', from ''aeí'' always and ''naûtai'' sailors) were magistrates at Miletus around 600 BC, consisting of the chief men in the state, who obtained the supreme power on the deposition of the tyrants, Thoas and Damasenor. Whenever they wished to deliberate on important matters, they embarked on board ship (hence their name), put out at a distance from land, and did not return to shore until they had transacted their business.

The historic source is Plutarch '' Moralia Vol. IV, fasc. 21, Quaestiones Graecae'' (), 32.298c-d:

Translation: ''Who are the Perpetual Sailors among the Milesians?''

When the despots associated with Thoas and Damasenor had been overthrown, two political parties came into control of the city, one of which was called Plutis, the other Cheiromacha. When, accordingly, the men of influence gained the upper hand and brought matters into the control of their party, they used to deliberate about matters of the greatest importance by embarking in their ships and putting out to a considerable distance from the land. But when they had come to a final decision, they sailed back; and because of this they acquired the appellation of Perpetual Sailors.

Further there are three known stone inscriptions from the island Euboea which feature the word ''aeinautai''. The first one, IG XII.9.923 from Chalkis, is broken so badly that we are left merely with a list of names and the word ''aeinautai''. A second inscription LSAG 88.21a.S433 from Eretria, records a dedication of a herma made by the "association" ('' koinon'') of the ''aeinautai''. It dates to the 5th century BC. The third, IG XII.9.909, is a dedicatory inscription from the 3rd century BC, also from Chalkis.

Notes

References

*
*{{HDCA

Ancient Greek titles
Ancient Milesians
Miletus
Ancient Greek tyrants
Greek inscriptions
Ancient Greek government