Praefectus annonae

However, in emergencies, or in times of extraordinary scarcity, someone would be elected to the office, and would take charge of supplying the entire city with provisions.

Lucius Minucius Augurinus, the accuser of Spurius Maelius, was the first individual appointed to this office, serving from 439 BC.

Around 7 BC, the first Roman Emperor, Augustus, followed this example, and after vesting himself with these powers, specified that two former praetors should be appointed each year to carry out the functions of this office.

During the later Empire, further praefecti annonae were established for the city of Alexandria (Egypt) and the province of Africa, the two chief sources of grain for the provisioning of Rome.

The entries from AD 14 to 337 are based on d'Esurac, La préfecture de l'annone, service administratif impérial d'Auguste à Constantin.

The columns of the statio annonae are now part of the church of Santa Maria in Cosmedin , Rome. Another statio was located near the Crypta Balbi .