Other forms: ephors
In ancient Sparta, an ephor was an elected official who shared power with the two Spartan kings.
An election was held each year to choose the five ephors who, along with the two kings, held executive power over the citizens of Sparta. Ephors were only allowed to serve one term, but their authority was far-reaching. Among many other duties, they filled in for an absent king, mediated between the monarchs, and could even arrest a king and try him in court. The Greek root of ephor means "overseer."