POENA (ποινή), a general name for any punishment of any offence.
Multa is the penalty of a particular offence. A Poena was only
inflicted when it was imposed by some lex or some other legal
authority (_quo alio jure_). When no poena was imposed, then a multa
or penalty might be inflicted.
PŎLĔMARCHUS (πολέμαρχος). Respecting the polemarchus at Athens,
see ARCHON. We read also of polemarchs at Sparta, and in various
cities of Boeotia. As their name denotes, they were originally and
properly connected with military affairs, being entrusted either
with the command of armies abroad, or the superintendence of the war
department at home; sometimes with both. The polemarchs of Sparta
appear to have ranked next to the king, when on actual service
abroad, and were generally of the royal kindred or house (γένος).
They commanded single morae, so that they would appear to have been
six in number, and sometimes whole armies. They also formed part of
the king’s council in war, and of the royal escort called _damosia_.
At Thebes there appear to have been two polemarchs, perhaps elected,
annually; and in times of peace they seem to have been invested with
the chief executive power of the state, and the command of the city,
having its military force under their orders. They are not, however,
to be confounded with the Boeotarchs.
PŌLĒTAE (πωλῆται), a board of ten officers, or magistrates, whose
duty it was to grant leases of the public lands and mines, and also
to let the revenues arising from the customs, taxes, confiscations,
and forfeitures. Of such letting the word πωλεῖν (not μισθοῦν) was
generally used, and also the correlative words ὠνεῖσθαι and πρίασθαι.
One was chosen from each tribe. In the letting of the revenue they
were assisted by the managers of the theoric fund (τὸ θεωρικόν), and
they acted under the authority of the senate of Five Hundred, who
exercised a general control over the financial department of the
administration. Resident aliens, who did not pay their residence
tax (μετοίκιον), were summoned before them, and, if found to have
committed default, were sold.