Archon (Greek ἄρχων arkhon; pl. ἄρχοντες) is a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord," frequently used as the title of a specific public office. As civic and religious leaders, Archons were responsible for organizing theatrical performances during festivals through playwrights and choregai, wealthy citizen patrons. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem ἀρχ-, meaning "to rule," derived from the same root as monarch.