Augustus nova officia excogitavit (Suet., Aug. 37) Octavian Augustus the Creator of the Cura Urbis?

Abstract

The curatores urbi, together with the prefects, are a part of the most characteristic Roman offices during the period of the principate. Thanks to the available source texts, particu- lary De aquaeductu urbis Romae, as well as thanks to the inscriptions, nowadays we have fairly precise information about the functions fulfilled by those officials. The doubts concern primarily the moment and the circumstances of the creation of the curatores urbi. According to Suetonius those officials, and especially curatores aquarum, curatores riparum et alvei Tiberis, curators aedium sacrarum et operum locorumque publicorum and curatores viarum were created by Augustus. However, that opinion raises doubts. The purpose of this very article is to determine to what extent the opinion of Suetonius is true and correct.