AEDILES, the magistrates at Rome who had care of the temples (cedes). Created in the same year as the tribunes of the people (494 B.c.), they were plebeians, elected, two in num ber, by the Concilium Plebis. Intended as assistants to the trib unes, they exercised police functions and had power to inflict fines. They also managed the plebeian and Roman games. In 367 B.C. an extra day was added to the Roman games. The patricians offered to bear the expense if admitted to the aedile ship. Accordingly two "curule" aediles (see CURULE) were ap pointed by the Comitia Tributa, at first patricians, then patri cians and plebeians in turn and lastly from either class. They managed the Roman and Megalesian games, cared for the patrician temples and issued edicts for the markets. The curule aediles ranked higher than the plebeian, but in time their func tions became practically identical.
These functions fell under three heads: (I) Care of the city— repair, etc., of temples, sewers and aqueducts; traffic regulation and precautions against fire ; control of baths and taverns, and general supervision of public morals. (2) Care of provisions— testing of quality and of weights and measures; purchase of corn for disposal in emergencies at a low price. (3) Care of the games—organization of the public games and control of those given by private individuals (e.g. at funerals). These were of ten used by ambitious persons as a means of gaining popu larity.
In 44 B.C. Caesar added two patrician aediles, called Cereales, for the care of the corn supply. Under Augustus the juridical functions of the office and the care of the games were transferred to the praetor, while its city responsibilities were limited by the appointment of a praefectus urbi. In the 3rd century A.D. it dis appeared altogether.
See W. E. Heitland, The Roman Republic (1923) , pp. 157-158 J. E. Sandys, Companion to Latin Studies (1921) (useful bibliogra phy) , 345, 385 ; A. H. J. Greenidge, Roman Public Life 0900 .