DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0078
Thamugas (Timegad), Theveste (Tebessa), Ammaedara (Hydra),
and Telepte. Still further south, some few leagues north of Lake
Triton, there was a road from Capsa (Gafsa) binding together a
long line of military outposts, and extending eastward as far as
Cyrene. Hippo Regius was the starting-point of seven roads,
and Lambaesis, the great military centre of the country, was
provided with three highways, one going north to Sitifis, another
to Cirta, and a third to Theveste. This last town was the
junction of not less than eight roads, and, during the first
century of the Christian era, took rank as one of the most
important towns in North Africa. Of any highways in Mauri-
tania west of Caesarea we have no mention till a later period.
The Tabula Itineraria Peutingeriana, as it is termed, now in the
library at Vienna, makes no reference to them, and the Itineraries
of Antoninus, in the form handed down to us, throw no light upon
the course of any military highways in the western provinces.
A dearth of inscriptions in the days of the Caesars leaves us in
considerable doubt as to the actual course of many of the roads
in more elevated regions, and the absence of milliary columns, so
numerous in the time of Trajan and the Antonines, has made it
difficult to ascertain the correctness of statements by ancient
authors and geographers. Still there is sufficient evidence of
the thoughtfulness of the Romans, as a great road-making
nation, in covering the country, wherever practicable, with a
network of roads, and constructing the chief military highways
with such imperishable materials that portions of them remain
to the present day. Roman roads in North Africa were of two
kinds, either paved with flat stones or macadamised. The paved
roads were constructed with stone slabs in squares, or lajd
diamond-wise. The others were made with broken rubble or
gravel, differing from English roads of that type by being laid
with cement, and having kerbs of cut stone at the sides.
Although the rule of the Caesars may be regarded as experi-
mental, yet it laid the foundations of a system of government
which resulted in a long era of wealth and prosperity. Few of
the Caesars had personal acquaintance with this splendid append-
age to the Empire. Carthage claims the distinction of having
been the first Roman colony established out of Italy, and
Hadrian was the first of the emperors to make a systematic
tour through nearly every part of his dominions ; and, conse-
and Telepte. Still further south, some few leagues north of Lake
Triton, there was a road from Capsa (Gafsa) binding together a
long line of military outposts, and extending eastward as far as
Cyrene. Hippo Regius was the starting-point of seven roads,
and Lambaesis, the great military centre of the country, was
provided with three highways, one going north to Sitifis, another
to Cirta, and a third to Theveste. This last town was the
junction of not less than eight roads, and, during the first
century of the Christian era, took rank as one of the most
important towns in North Africa. Of any highways in Mauri-
tania west of Caesarea we have no mention till a later period.
The Tabula Itineraria Peutingeriana, as it is termed, now in the
library at Vienna, makes no reference to them, and the Itineraries
of Antoninus, in the form handed down to us, throw no light upon
the course of any military highways in the western provinces.
A dearth of inscriptions in the days of the Caesars leaves us in
considerable doubt as to the actual course of many of the roads
in more elevated regions, and the absence of milliary columns, so
numerous in the time of Trajan and the Antonines, has made it
difficult to ascertain the correctness of statements by ancient
authors and geographers. Still there is sufficient evidence of
the thoughtfulness of the Romans, as a great road-making
nation, in covering the country, wherever practicable, with a
network of roads, and constructing the chief military highways
with such imperishable materials that portions of them remain
to the present day. Roman roads in North Africa were of two
kinds, either paved with flat stones or macadamised. The paved
roads were constructed with stone slabs in squares, or lajd
diamond-wise. The others were made with broken rubble or
gravel, differing from English roads of that type by being laid
with cement, and having kerbs of cut stone at the sides.
Although the rule of the Caesars may be regarded as experi-
mental, yet it laid the foundations of a system of government
which resulted in a long era of wealth and prosperity. Few of
the Caesars had personal acquaintance with this splendid append-
age to the Empire. Carthage claims the distinction of having
been the first Roman colony established out of Italy, and
Hadrian was the first of the emperors to make a systematic
tour through nearly every part of his dominions ; and, conse-