Hendeka

(οἱ Ἕνδεκα, “The Eleven”). A term applied at Athens to a band consisting of ten members, chosen by lot, and their secretary. Their duty was to superintend the prisons, receive arrested prisoners, and carry out the sentences of the law. The capital sentence was executed by their subordinates. They also had penal jurisdiction in the case of delinquents discovered in the act of committing offences punishable with death or imprisonment. If they pleaded guilty, the Eleven inflicted the punishment at once; if not, they instituted a judicial inquiry and presided at the decision of the case. They had the same power in the case of embezzlement of confiscated property, of which they had lists in their possession. Under Demetrius Phalereus they received the name of νομοφύλακες.

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