Definition: The prytaneum was a public building in the center of ancient Greek cities where the civic fire was located. The fire was always kept lit. In early days, the king or prytanis may have lived in the prytaneum. Colonists would take coals from the sacred fire in the prytaneum when they set out to found new cities.
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Common Misspellings: pyrtaneum
Examples: The prytaneum was the center of the city in terms of civic, political, and religious functions.
