Hi, everyone. Welcome to the first entry in my 2020 blogging challenge. As you might recall, I’m sharing facts about Pompeii. My current work in progress is set there, so I thought it would be fun to share some of my research with you! Wherever possible, I will use photographs from my visit to the ruins earlier this year.
Our first entry is aedile. An aedile was the most junior elected office in ancient Roman times. The aedile was a magistrate, responsible for management of public roads and public buildings. He, and they were always male, had to be at least 37 years old to run for office. For much of antiquity, two pairs of aediles were elected each year, one pair from the plebeian class (the common folk) and one pair from the patrician class (the upper classes). The main difference between the two pairs had to do with managing public festivals. Some festivals were solely for the patricians, others solely for the plebeians. Regardless of which class the aedile belonged to, he would have to be wealthy. Aediles were expected to spend lavishly from their own purses on these events.
Julius Caesar added the requirement for two more aediles to be elected each year, to be specifically in charge of the food supply. However, those duties were eventually assigned to men holding the praetorship, a higher level magistracy.
Cool to see an ancient political poster. An aedile seems like a good official post. Managing public festivals, these days, is often done by women as volunteers who get very little credit for the vast amount of work that it takes.
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You raise a very interesting point! Thank you so much for stopping by today.
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What a fabulous theme, and fascinating starting post. I’m looking forward to learning more, and seeing more of your photos. This one is wonderful.
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Thank you!
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Sounds like it was expensive to be an elected official.
Tasha 💖
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It most definitely was.
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At the beginning of the A to Z I intended to follow your posts on Pompeii but somehow I lost you. Now in May I will have time to read them.
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I am so glad you have been stopping by! I had a wonderful time doing the challenge this year.
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Reblogged this on Sharon E. Cathcart and commented:
Hi, everyone. In the run-up to release day for Pompeii Fire, I’ll be sharing some of facts from my research. This blog series in 2020 seems a great place to start. Enjoy!
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Really interesting, Sharon. I think I’m going to learn a lot from you 🙂
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Thank you!
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