Via Traiana

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For Arabian road, see Via Traiana Nova

The Via Traiana was an ancient Roman road. It was built by the emperor Trajan as an extension of the Via Appia from Beneventum, reaching Brundisium (Brindisi) by a shorter route (i.e. via Canusium, Butuntum and Barium rather than via Tarentum). This was commemorated by an arch at Beneventum.[1]

[edit] Background

Via Traiana was constructed in 109 A.D. by Emperor Trajan at his own expense. It was built following the conclusion of conquest of Italy during a period of relative freedom from military campaigns. ^[1] Thus the Via Appia, from which Via Traiana was constructed as an extension, lost its original importance as a military highroad that connected Venusia and Tarentum. Furthermore, the maintenance of direct military communications between Venusia, the military colony of 291 B.C., and Rome was no longer needed except in times of Civil War. In short, Via Appia simply became a means of reaching Brundisium. While cities such as Venusia that were once crucial for military communication and strategy lost their importance, Brundisium began to flourish. Brundisium became a major harbor through which soldiers, merchants and all manner of travelers took ship for Greece and the East. Understanding that faster speed is vital for transportation, there was a need for a shorter route to Beneventum from Brundisium other than Via Appia.

[edit] Route

Strabo indicates correctly that traveling to Beneventum from Brundisium through Via Traiana was a good day shorter than the old Republican road, Via Appia. ^[2] Although the actual measurement shows Via Appia to be 203 miles and Via Traiana 205 miles from Brundisium to Beneventum, the difference lies in their topography. There are a number of severe hills and difficult terrain along Via Appia until it reaches Venusia which is about 66 miles away from Beneventum. In contrast, although Via Traiana does encounter equally demanding passages as well in the first 40 miles from Beneventum, there is not another serious hill all the way to Brundisium. ^[3]

[edit] References

1. Via Traiana. "The Oxford Classical Dictionary." 3rd ed. 2003.

2. Strabo. "Geography: Books 6-7." Trans. Horace Leonard Jones. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1995.

3. The Via Traiana. "Papers of the British School at Rome," Vol. VIII, No.5; pages 104-171. London: Macmillan & Co., Limited, 1916.