Episkopoi (Ancient Greek: ἐπίσκοποι, sing. ἐπίσκοπος, episkopos, literally "overseer"), Latinizedepiscopus/episcopi, were inspectors who were sometimes sent by the Athenians to subject states. Harpocration compares them to the Lacedaemonianharmosts, and says that they were also called phylakes (φύλακες, "guardians"). It appears that these episkopoi received a salary at the cost of the cities over which they presided.
The term was used in early Christianity to refer to overseers of local churches.[1] It has often been translated as "overseers," "pastors," "shepherds," or "bishops."[2]
^Bercot, David W., ed. (1998). A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More Than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers. pp. 70–77. ISBN1-56563-357-1.
Aristoph. Aves, 1022, &c., with Schol.';
Harpocrat. s. v. ; Bockh, Publ. Econ. of Athens^ pp. 156, 238j 2d ed. ;
