DUOVIRI

duoviri, less correctly duumviri (from lat. _duo_ two, and _vir_, man), in ancient rome, the official style of two joint magistrates. such pairs of magistrates were appointed at various periods of roman history both in rome itself and in the colonies and municipia. (1) _duumviri iuri (iure) dicundo_, municipal magistrates, whose chief duties were concerned with the administration of justice. sometimes there were four of these magistrates (_quattuorviri_). (2) _duumviri quinquennales_, also municipal officers, not to be confused with the above, who were elected every fifth year for one year to exercise the function of the censorship which was in abeyance for the intervening four years. (3) _duumviri sacrorum_, officers who originally had charge of the sibylline books; they were afterwards increased to ten (_decemviri sacris faciundis_), and in sulla's time to fifteen (_quindecimviri_). (4) _duumviri aedi locandae_, originally officers specially appointed to supervise the erection of a temple. there were also _duumviri aedi dedicandae_. (5) _duumviri navales_, extraordinary officers appointed _ad hoc_ for the equipping of a fleet. originally chosen by consuls or dictator, they were elected by the people after 311 b.c. (livy ix. 30; xl. 18; xli. 1). (6) _duumviri perduellionis_, the earliest criminal court for trying offences against the state (see treason: _roman law_). (7) _duumviri viis extra urbem purgandis_, subordinate officers under the aediles, whose duty it was to look after those streets of rome which were outside the city walls. apparently in 20 b.c., certainly by 12