ADZE, Or AnoIca, the name of a cutting tool, with a thin arched blade, like a portion of a spherical surface, and with its edge at right angles to the handle. The ax is capable of cutting only in a vertical direction ; hut the adze may be employed either in a horizontal or in a vertical direction. (w) lEACEA, the name given to the feasts and combats which were celebrated at Egina, in honour of king who was distinguished by his justice and other virtue s. (w) i,'DEEITE, a name applied to one of the sub species of Zeolite. See OkycrooNosy. (r) iEDILE, a Roman magistrate, to whose care were intrusted the public buildings, and from which he de rived his name (a cure ,echum.) At first, there were only two xdiles, called _EdiZe.s.fitcbcii. who were created A. U. 260, to act as assistants to the tribunes, and were in some measure under their control. They were ori ginally chosen in the comitia curiata, at the same time with the tribunes of the commons, but were afterwards elected, as the other inferior magistrates, at the comities triUuta. Their office was to take care of the city, its buildings, temples, aqueducts, public roads. cially before the creation of censors, to whose office this duty afterwards belonged. They superintended the public markets, inspected the weights and measures, and took care that every thing which was there exposed to sale should be of good quality. They took cognisance of all immoral practices ; and determined certain lesser causes, which were committed to them by the tribunes. They were strictly enjoined to prevent the introduction of any new gods or religious ceremonies ; and the de crees of the senate, and the ordinances of the people, which were deposited in the temple of Ceres, were intrusted to their care. Their business also, was to
exhibit public games at their own expense, by which many of them were ruined. But we learn from Livy, that, on a certain occasion, this part of their duty was taken from them. After the violent animosities between the patricians and plebeians had subsided, the senate decreed, that the greatest games should be celebrated in gratitude to the immortal gods. The ..ediles refusing to perform their part of the festival, the patricians de clared, that they would cheerfully do that duty, to be honoured with the office of xdile. Their offer being accepted, two xdiles of the patrician order were imme diately created, and called, ,edilcs curulcs, because, when administering justice, they used the sulfa curults, an ho nour not permitted to the plebeian xdiles. Their chief employment was to exhibit the public games and shows, which they sometimes did in the most magnificent and expensive manner, in order to ingratiate themselves with the people, and to pave the way for future prefer ment. They were appointed to review new publications; and all plays were submitted to their inspection, before they were brought upon the stage. In these cases they were bound by oath to give the palm to the most deserving.
To these officers Julius exsar added two more, called ediles coyotes, chosen from the patrician order, whose business was to inspect the public granaries. See Adams's Antiq. p. 142. Livy. Dionysius. (p)