​NEOCORATE, a rank or dignity granted by the Senate under the Roman Empire to certain cities of Asia, which had built temples for the worship of the emperors or had established cults of members of the imperial family. The Greek word νεωκόρος meant literally a temple-sweeper (νεώς, temple, κορεῖν, to sweep), and was thence used both of a temple attendant and of a priestly holder of high rank who was in charge of a temple.