Kleroterion

A Kleroterion ( Κληρωτήριον, from Greek κλῆρος = lot) was an ancient Losmaschine.

It consisted of a large stone slab, in which were arranged in multiple columns slots. In these slots platelets were pushed with the names of persons standing for solution. There was a vertical tube, were placed in the white and black spheres, which then have to be removed again in a random order at the lower end of the tube on the side of the machine.

The traditional school of thought, a funnel-like device at the upper end of the tube was filled with bullets. As became clear at a reconstruction of the apparatus, however, such an operation is unlikely because the balls are blocking each other on the lower Trichteröffung and thus do not enter the tube. ( The reconstruction is now in Buigen Gymnasium Herbrechtingen. )

Probably from left to right and from top to bottom, the composition of the boule was determined, for example. Either for each row of slots or for each individual name plates let you out a ball from the machine. Candidates or groups who had received a white ball were to be elected, candidates or groups with a black ball were not selected.

In the following figure from the Stoa of Attalos Kleroterion at the Agora in Athens was probably the draw for the members of the Boule, since it has slots in eleven series - probably for eleven tribes.