noun
- wealthy citizens in ancient Athens who were required to finance and command warships
Usage: historical; ancient Greek
Examples
- The trierarchs were responsible for maintaining their assigned warships throughout the naval campaign.
- Wealthy Athenians served as trierarchs, funding the construction and operation of triremes.
- The system of trierarchs helped Athens maintain its powerful navy during the classical period.
- Many trierarchs competed to outfit the finest ships as a display of civic pride.
- The burden of serving as trierarchs fell heavily on Athens’ richest citizens.