many meetings were mandatory and evidence suggests that persuasive individuals could enjoin the prytaneis to call or not to call a supplementary meeting. The prytaneis received ambassadors from foreign states, held meetings decided the desirability of holding an ostracism, and generally conducted the day-to-day business of the state. They ate at public expense in the ''tholos'', a circular edifice constructed for them next to the boule house.

The selected