sitopolae

SITOPO´LAE(σιτοπῶλαι). [SITOS]

(σιτοπῶλαι). Middlemen at Athens who sold grain and who were carefully watched by the citizens as well as by the importers lest they should “corner the market” (συνωνεῖσθαι) and put up the price of cereals (συνιστάναι τὰς τιμάς), an offence legally punishable with death; nor was any bail allowed to them before trial. This law, however, was systematically evaded (Lys. Or. 22). See sitophylaces.