The ''oikistes'' (), often
anglicized
Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...
as oekist or oecist, was the individual chosen by an ancient Greek
polis
Polis (: poleis) means 'city' in Ancient Greek. The ancient word ''polis'' had socio-political connotations not possessed by modern usage. For example, Modern Greek πόλη (polē) is located within a (''khôra''), "country", which is a πατ ...
as the leader of any new
colonization effort. He was invested with the power of selecting a settling place, directing the initial labors of the colonists and guiding the fledgling colony through its hard early years.
The oracle is also consulted during deliberations for choosing an ''oikistes''.
After he is appointed and directed to found a colony, he also consults the Delphic oracle.
Due to his authority, the ''oikistes'' was often accorded
his own cult after his death, and his name was preserved even when all other details of the founding of a colony were forgotten.
References
Society of ancient Greece
Greek colonization
City founders
Greek hero cult
{{AncientGreece-stub