The Appian Way

The Roman Superhighway

• Started in 312 BC by censor Appius Claudius Caecus

• Result of Roman difficulty transporting soldiers and supplies across the Pomptine Marshes.

Construction

• Dirt piled across road, highest in middle

• Small stones and mortar on dirt

• Gravel• Tight-fitting,

interlocking, flat, volcanic stones

• Ditches on either side for drainage

Began in Roman Forum

Servian Wall

Porta Capena

First Segment

• 132 miles• Rome to Capua• Transport soldiers

through swamp--19 mile causeway

• All built in 312 BC!!• Achieved purpose--

Rome won Second Saminite War--led to colonization of southern Italy

• Arox. 298 BC--extended another 35 miles to Beneventum

The end of the road:

Brundisium

• 264 BC• Port city for ships

sailing to Greece• Gave Rome

complete control of Southern Italy

On the Road:Important sites and moments

on the Via Appia

Crucifixtion of Spartacus

Tombs and more tombs

Villa

Aqua Appia

WWII: Soldiers use Via Appia to get around swamp (again)

• Still used, some by cars• Longest stretch of straight road in Eurpope--62 miles