The original scope of duties of the aediles is still unexplained. Aediles points to aedes (temple) and thus to public buildings; the usual equation in Greek of agoranomoi leads to an association with market duties (Just. Epit. 21,5,7).
Roman tradition (Liv. 3,55,6 f.) places the first two aediles (plebeii) at the side of the tribuni plebis active since 494 BC, probably as assistants in administrative duties at the Temple of Ceres (aedes Cereris Liberi Liberaeque), the cultic centre of the plebs , and during market business at the nearby Forum Boarium. Perha…