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 after the custom had grown up of extending the imperium, these assistants accompanied the proconsuls and propraetors to their provinces. The term of the quaestorship was prolonged with that of the office with which it was associated, for the connexion between the superior and inferior was regarded as being of almost as personal a character as that between father and son. We shall examine the relation more minutely when we come to deal with provincial organisation. It is sufficient to remark here that, though the quaestors' functions were mainly financial, they were in all other respects true administrative delegates of the magistrates with imperium, and were constantly employed on judicial and military business.

(iii.) The quaestors of Italy were probably identical with those of the fleet (classici), and were a result of the organisation of Italy which followed the war with Pyrrhus (267 ). For the purposes of the Pyrrhine war twelve quaestors were created, whose number, when they were given permanent stations, was reduced to four. Three of these stations can be approximately determined. One was Ostia, and the tenure of this post was burdened with the duty of the supply of corn to Rome. The second appears to have been the woods and forests (calles) of Italy. The third was in Cispadane Gaul, perhaps at Ravenna. Lydus may be right about the original number, although it has been sometimes thought a confused reminiscence of the raising of the number from four to eight.]