- The Aediles were Roman Magistrates responsible for Rome’s Public Buildings and Water Supply.
- They were the third rung on the ladder of the Cursus Honorum, the career path of the Roman Civil Service.
The Duties of Aedile under the Republic
- Election
- The Aediles were created in 494 BCE, at the same time as the Tribunes of the People (Plebeian Tribunes).
- The Aediles were Elected Annually by the Concilium Plebis (Plebeian Council or Popular Assembly) and started Office on the Fifth December.
- From 365 BCE there were 4 Aediles in total, by adding 2 Curule Aediles.
Two Plebeian Aediles
- Duties:
- All the Aediles had Sacrosanctitas (Inviolability)
- Responsible for the daily administration of the Temples
- The maintenance of Rome’s Public Buildings
- Supervising Rome’s Water Supply
- Supervising the Public Markets.
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- Julius Caesar added 2 more Plebeian Aediles who supervised the Grain Supply (the Cereales) making 6 in total.
Two Curule Aediles
- Duties:
- All the Aediles had Sacrosanctitas (Inviolability)
- These latter were elected annually by the Comitia Tributa
- Were accompanied by two Lictors
- Special honours – sat in the Sella Curialis
- Wore the Toga Praetexta
- Could speak first in the Roman Senate
- The right to have a wax mask in their likeness (same as the Nobility)
- Organising the Public Games Ludi
- Announce Edicts regarding Trade
- Curule and Plebeian Aediles had Sacrosanctitas (Inviolability)
Right to Veto
- They could veto any decisions made by fellow Aediles and Questors.
- They could be overridden by the Praetors, the Praetor Urbanus, Consuls, Tribune of the Plebs, or the Dictator and Magister Equitum.