Literally translating as ‘work for the people’, liturgy, or ‘leitourgia’ referred to the financial commitments made by wealthy Greeks to their home city-state. These would often take the form of sponsorship of games or religious festivals, but also building and military projects. Although such contributions were expected and often mandatory, liturgy was rewarded with public offices and improved status for the individual concerned. During the time of the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, ‘trierarchy’ – the construction, equipment and manning of a fighting trireme for a period of one year – was a common form of liturgy. The benefactor, known as the ‘trierarch’, might also be expected to command the ship under the direction of the overall ‘strategos’ for the campaign. However, it was possible for a trierarch to avoid direct involvement by payment of an additional stipend to employ a specialist admiral to command in his stead.
