Each of the cities of proconsular Asia, at the autumnal equinox, assembled its most honourable and opulent citizens, in order to select one to preside over the games to be exhibited that year, at his expense, in the honour of the gods and the Roman Emperor. Thereupon each city reported the name of the person selected to a general assembly held by some leading city, as Ephesus, Smyrna, Sardis. The general council selected ten out of the number of candidates, and sent them to the proconsul; the proconsul chose one of these ten to preside over the rest.