A.public ξένος, public guest or friend, made so by an act of the State: Alexander 1 of Macedon was π. καὶ εὐεργέτης of Athens, Hdt.8.136, cf. 143; “πρόξενοι ἀμφικτιόνων” Pi.I.4(3).8; “εἶναι πρόξενον τοῦ δήμου τοῦ Ἀθηναίων Στράτωνα τὸν Σιδῶνος βασιλέα καὶ αὐτὸν καὶ ἐκγόνους” IG22.141.9; “πρόξενοι καὶ πολῖται” Lys.28.1; esp. of persons representing the interests of a foreign state in their own community, Pl.Lg.642b, etc.; opp. φιδιόξενος (q. v.), IG9(1).333.11 (Locr., v B. C.); of π. of Athens in other states, Pindar at Thebes, Isoc.15.166; Thucydides at Pharsalus, Th.8.92; π. τῆς πόλεως, i.e. of Athens at Mytilene, Arist.Pol. 1304a10; of other states at Athens, Cimon and Callias of Sparta, And.3.3, X.HG5.4.22; Nicias of Syracuse, D.S.13.27; Thraso of Thebes, Aeschin.3.138; “ὅσους γέγραφε προξένους εἶναι καὶ Ἀθηναίους” Din.1.45; of other states at Sparta, e.g. Lichas of Argos, Th.5.76; Clearchus of Byzantium, X.HG1.1.35; π. of barbarian communities and rulers, Id.An.5.4.2, 5.6.11; sts. the function was exercised by a community, “εἶμεν τὰν πόλιν τῶν Δελφῶν πρόξενον τᾶς πόλιος τᾶς Σαρδιανῶν . . διὰ τὸ μὴ ὑπάρχειν πρόξενον Σαρδιανοῖς” SIG548.10 (Delph., iii B. C.).
b. later, of patrons or representatives of guilds, e.g. the σύνοδος τοῦ Διὸς τοῦ Ξενίου at Athens, IG22.1012.18, cf.7.2486 (Thebes), 14.615 (Rhegium).
2. at Sparta, officials appointed by the Kings to entertain foreign guests, Hdt.6.57; also at Delphi, of persons extending public hospitality, E.Ion551,1039, Andr.1103; so in Nephelococcygia, Ar.Av.1021.
3. in pl., witnesses to a will, IG14.636 (Petelia).
II. generally, patron, protector, A.Supp.420 (lyr.), al., Ar.Th.602; φίλης γὰρ π. κατήνυσαν at the house of a kind patroness, i.e. Clytaemnestra, S.El.1451; “προξένῳ χρῆσθαί τινι” E.Fr.721.
III. Adj., assisting, relieving, c. gen., Alciphr.3.72.
