Smith, William: A smaller dictionary of Greek and Roman antiquities (London, 1871)

VIA. 413 VIA.

side and strewed with gravel, the different
parts were strengthened and bound together
with gomphi or stone wedges, and stone

blocks were set up at moderate intervals on
the side of the foot-paths, in order that tra-
vellers on horseback might be able to mount

Street at the entrance oi' Pompeii.

without assistance. Finally, Caius Gracchus
erected mile-stones along the whole extent
of the great highways, marking the dist-
ances from Rome, which appear to have been
counted from the gate at which each road
issued forth, and Augustus, when appointed
inspector of the viae around the city, erected
in the forum a gilded column {milUarium
aureum), on which were inscribed the dis-
tances of the principal points to which the
viae conducted. During the earlier ages of
the republic the construction and general
superintendence of the roads without, and
the streets within the city, were committed
like all other important works to the censors.
These duties, when no censors were in office,
devolved upon the consuls, and in their ab-
sence on the praetor urbanus, the aediles, or
such persons as the senate thought fit to ap-
point. There were also under the republic
four officers, called quatuorviri viarum, for
superintending the streets within the city,
and two called curatores viarum, for super-
intending the roads without. Under the
empire the curatores viarum were officers of
high rank. The chief roads which issued
from Home are :—1. The Via Appia, the
Great South Road. It issued from the Porta
Capciia, and passing through Aricia, Tres
Tabernae, Appii Forum, Tarracina, Fundi,
Formiae, Minturnae, Sinuessa, and Casili-

num, terminated at Capua, but was event-
ually extended through Calatia and C'audium
to Beneventum, and finally from thence
through Venusia, Tarcntum, and Uria, to
Brundusium.—2. The Via Latina, from the
Porta Capcna, another great line leading to
Beneventum, but keeping a course farther
inland than the Via Appia. Soon after
leaving the city it sent off a short branch
(Via Tcsculana) to Tusculum, and passing
through Compitum Anaginum, Ferentinum,
Frusino, Fregellae, Fabrateria, Aquinum,
Casinum, Vena/rum, Teanum, AUifae, and
Telesia, joined the Via Appia at Beneventum.
A cross-road called the Via Hadriana, run-
ning from Minturnae through Suessa Au-
runca to Teanum, connected the Via Appia
with the Via Latina.—3. From the Porta
Esquilina issued the Via Labicana, which
passing Labicum fell into the Via Latina at
the station ad Bivium, 30 miles from Rome.
—4. The Via Praenestina, originally the Via
Gabina, issued from the same gate with the
former. Passing through Gabii and Prae-
neste, it joined the Via Latina just below
Anagnia.—5. The Via Tibvrtina, which
issued from the Porta Tiburtina, and pro-
ceeding N. E. to Tibur, a distance of about
20 miles, was continued from thence, in the
same direction, under the name of the Via
Valeria, and traversing the country of the