Curule Aediles

• The Curule Aediles were Roman Magistrates responsible for Rome’s Public Buildings and Water Supply.
• Aedes means Temple.

History of the Aediles

• Originally, under the Republic, there were 2 Plebian Aediles elected by the Concilium Plebis.
• In 365 BCE they were increased to 4 by adding 2 Curule Aediles.
• Then Julius Caesar increased them to 6 by adding 2 more Plebeian Aediles in charge of the Grain Supply called ‘Cereales’.
• The Minimum Age was 36. It was not an essential step in the career path, and could be bypassed.

Election of the Curule Aediles

• The Curule aediles were elected annually by the Comitia Tributa.
• After the second century BCE candidates from both the Plebian class and the Patrician class, were free to run for election as Curule Aediles.

Duties of the Curule Aediles

• They were accompanied by two Lictors
• Curule and Plebeian Aediles had Sacrosanctitas (Inviolability).
• They organised the Public Games, Ludi Romani and the Ludi Megalenses.
• They could announce Edicts regarding Trade.
• They also had Special honours:
  • They sat in the ‘Sella Curialis’.
  • They wore the Toga Praetexta.
  • They could speak first in the Roman Senate.
  • They had the right to have a wax mask in their likeness (same as the Nobility).

Duties of the Plebeian Curules

• 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 and Grain Supply (the Cereales).
• Supervising the Public Markets.

Right to Veto

• They could veto any decisions made by fellow Aediles and Questors.
• They could be overidden by the Praetors, the Praetor Urbanus, Consuls, Tribune of the Plebs, or the Dictator and Magister Equitum.