Page "Aedile" Paragraph 1

The office was generally held by young men intending to follow the cursus honorum to high political office, traditionally after their quaestorship but before their praetorship.

It was not a compulsory part of the cursus, and hence a former quaestor could be elected to the praetorship without having held the aedileship.

However, it was an advantageous position to hold because it demonstrated the aspiring politician's commitment to public service, as well as giving him the opportunity to hold public festivals and games, an excellent way to increase his name recognition and popularity.