{all roads lead to Rome} ... The Appian way (via Appia)

Metawh1

13 Jan, 2023

The Appian way (via Appia) in Italy is the first war road built by the Romans, it is also the most famous and durable, this road is still passable.

Appian Road location

via Appia

Ivan was named after Apis Claudius Sykes, a Roman administrator who began supervising its construction in 312 BC

The Appian road was used as a route, so it was built for this purpose

It is the first road built particularly to transport troops outside the smaller area of Greater Rome, whereas it was necessary for the Romans.

The few roads outside the early city were in Etruscan, and went mainly to Etruria, by the Late Republic, the Romans had expanded into most of Italy and were master of the roads building.

Their roads began in Rome, where the chief of itinerary, or the list of facades along

Appian road

the roads, were marked and extended to the limits of their fields, from which the expression came ....(all roads lead to Rome)

Reason for the construction of via Appia

For historians believe that the main reason for the constructing of a wide highway, paved with huge boulders, was a military necessity: the Roman legionaries marched, and they went to war with the Samnites - in addition, this road has connected the capital to the most remote parts of the state, so that the authorities can control it.

There is an economic reason, the construction of this road led to the improvement of trade relations between Rome and others, and to the ease and speed of transportation of goods and services.

In the Middle Ages, after moving the seat of the empire from Rome on the banks of the Tiber to Byzantium on the shores of the Bosphorus and after the Roman Emperor Theodosius converted to Christianity, this highway turned into a sacred road used by pilgrims in their travels to the sacred lands.

Apostle Peter

In Rome it is possible to follow the footsteps of the Apostle Peter, the first Pope of Christianity, and discover the places that left a memorable mark in his life.

Being one of the twelve apostles, he performed a significant role in Christianity development so that his essential influence to it is worldwide recognized and witnessed by the great amount of Holy places named after him.

According to the Christian belief during his escape from Rome, when he was walking along the Appian way, Peter met again Jesus, who was bringing along with him his cross, then Peter asked Jesus “Domine, quo vadis?” which in Latin means

"Lord, where are you going?"

Saint Peter statue

Today, it is still possible to admire the stunning Quo Vadis church along the Appian way that stand still to remember this episode.

church on Via road

Thus, it can be said that the Appian Way takes on the character of holiness for the Christian belief.

Soon, the construction of luxurious palaces and tombs of noble city-states began along the route of war and the commercial artery.

A significant part of the structures was dismantled after the collapse of the Roman Empire, and in the 18th century a new path of the same name appeared, the path of which stretched from the state capital to the Albanian lake. So the official name of the ancient highway is the ancient Appian Way of Rome.

The only answer he got was that his destination was Rome, and that he was going there to be going to death once again.

This unexpected meeting made Peter change his mind, so he came back to Rome with the aim of being crucified in the place of Jesus.