via
via, a way, highway, road, path, street
the width of a road is by law eight feet
he had advanced for a journey of three days
by manner and way
- I Lit.
- 1 In gen.: viae latitudo ex lege duodecim tabularum in porrectum octo pedes habet, in anfractum, id est ubi flexum est, sedecim, Dig. 8, 3, 8: Romam in montibus positam et convallibus, non optimis viis, angustissimis semitis, Cic. Agr. 2, 35, 96: et modo quae fuerat semita, facta via est, Mart. 7, 61, 4: aut viam aut semitam monstret, Plaut. Rud. 1, 3, 30 (214): mi opsistere in viā, id. Curc. 2, 3, 5 (284): ire in viā, Ter. Eun. 495: omnibus viis notis semitisque essedarios ex silvis emittebat, Caes. B. G. 5, 19 (opp. semita), id. ib. 7, 8; Liv. 44, 43, 1; cf.: decedam ego illi de viā, Plaut. Trin. 2, 4, 80 (481); cf. id. Curc. 2, 3, 8 (287): paulum ad dexteram de viā declinavi, Cic. Fin. 5, 2, 5: decedere viā, Suet. Tib. 31: aestuosa et pulverulenta via, Cic. Att. 5, 14, 1: quā (viā) Sequanis invitis propter angustias ire non poterant, Caes. B. G. 1, 9: cursare huc illuc viā deterrimā, Cic. Att. 9, 9, 2: in viam se dare, to set out on a journey, id. Fam. 14, 12: te neque navigationi neque viae committere, id. ib. 16, 4, 1: tu abi tuam viam, Plaut. Rud. 4, 3, 88 (1025): milites monuit, viā omnes irent, nec deverti quemquam paterentur, along the highway, Liv. 25, 9, 4.—In a double sense: ire publicā viā, Plaut. Curc. 1, 1, 35 (35).—Prov.: qui sibi semitam non sapiunt, alteri monstrant viam, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 58, 132 (Trag. v. 358 Vahl.): de viā in semitam degredi, Plaut. Cas. 3, 5, 40 (660): totā errare viā, Ter. Eun. 245.—
- 2 In partic., as the name of a particular street or road: tres ergo viae, a supero mari Flaminia, ab infero Aurelia, media Cassia, Cic. Phil. 12, 9, 22: Via Appia, id. Mil. 6, 15; id. Imp. Pomp. 18, 55; cf. Liv. 9, 29, 6; v. Appius: Via Campana, Suet. Aug. 94; v. Campania: Sacra Via, in Rome, in the fourth region, Varr. L. L. 5, § 47 Müll.; Fest. p. 290 ib.; Cic. Planc. 7, 17; Hor. Epod. 4, 7; 7, 8: Via Sacra, id. S. 1, 9, 1; also written as one word, SACRAVIA, Inscr. Grut. 638, 7; 1033, 1; cf. Charis. p. 6 P.; Diom. p. 401 ib. (v. sacer, I. A.); cf. Becker, Antiq. 1, p. 219 sq.— Hence, Sacrăvĭenses, ĭum, m., those dwelling on the Sacra Via, Fest. s. v. October equus, p. 178 Müll.—
- B Transf.
- 1 Abstr., like our way, for march, journey (syn. iter): cum de viā languerem, Cic. Phil. 1, 5, 12: nisi de viā fessus esset, id. Ac. 1, 1, 1: tridui via, a three days’ march or journey, Caes. B. G. 1, 38: bidui, id. ib. 6, 7; Cic. Div. 1, 15, 27: longitudo viae, Liv. 37, 33, 3: flecte viam velis, Verg. A. 5, 28: tum via tuta maris, Ov. M. 11, 747: feci Longa Pherecleā per freta puppe vias, id. H. 16, 22: ne inter vias praeterbitamus, metuo, by the way, on the road, Plaut. Poen. 5, 3, 43 (1162); Ter. Eun. 629; Turp. ap. Non. p. 538, 8 et saep.—
- 2 In gen., a way, passage, channel, pipe, etc.; thus, a lane in a camp, Caes. B. G. 5, 49; a passage between the seats of a theatre, Mart. 5, 14, 8; Tert. Spect. 3; of the veins: omnes ejus (sanguinis) viae, Cic. N. D. 2, 55, 137; of the chyle ducts: quaedam a medio intestino usque ad portas jecoris ductae et directae viae, id. ib.; the windpipe, Ov. M. 15, 344; 14, 498; a cleft through which any thing penetrates, Verg. G. 2, 79; cf. Ov. M. 11, 515; the path or track of an arrow, Verg. A. 5, 526; a stripe in a party-colored fabric, Tib. 2, 3, 54 et saep.—
- II Trop.
- A In gen., a way, method, mode, manner, fashion, etc., of doing any thing, course (cf. modus): vitae, Cic. Fl. 42, 105; id. Agr. 1, 9, 27; id. Sest. 67, 140; Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 26; Sen. Brev. Vit. 9, 5; Lact. Epit. 67, 12: via vivendi, Cic. Off. 1, 32, 118: rectam vitae viam sequi, id. ib.: Socrates hanc viam ad gloriam proximam dicebat esse, id. ib. 2, 12, 43: haec ad aeternam gloriam via est, Plin. 2, 7, 5, § 18: haec una via omnibus ad salutem visa est, Liv. 36, 27, 8: invenire viam ad mortem, Plin. Ep. 3, 16, 12: totidem ad mortem viae sunt, Sen. Contr. 1, 8, 6: cum eum hortarer ut eam laudis viam rectissimam esse duceret, Cic. Brut. 81, 281: haec est una via laudis, id. Sest. 65, 137: totam ignoras viam gloriae, id. Phil. 1, 14, 33: quae tum promptissima mortis via, exsolvit venas, Tac. A. 16, 17: habeo certam viam atque rationem, quā omnes illorum conatus investigare et consequi possim, Cic. Verr. 1, 16, 48: defensionis ratio viaque, id. ib. 2, 5, 1, § 4: non tam justitiae quam litigandi tradunt vias, id. Leg. 1, 6, 18: docendi via, id. Or. 32, 114: optimarum artium vias tradere, id. Div. 2, 1, 1: (di) non ... nullas dant vias nobis ad significationum scientiam, id. ib. 2, 49, 102: rectam instas viam, i. e. you speak correctly, truly, Plaut. As. 1, 1, 41 (56).—Adverb.: rectā viā, directly: ut rectā viā rem narret ordine omnem, Ter. Heaut. 706.—
- B Pregn. (cf. ratio), the right way, the true method, mode, or manner: ingressu'st viam, i. e. rectam, Plaut. Am. 1, 1, 273 (425): in omnibus quae ratione docentur et viā, primum constituendum est, quid quidque sit, etc., rationally and methodically, Cic. Or. 33, 116: ut ratione et viā procedat oratio, id. Fin. 1, 9, 29.—Adverb.: viā, rightly, properly (opp. to wandering out of the way): ipsus eam rem secum reputavit viā, Ter. And. 442: viā et arte dicere, Cic. Brut. 12, 46. —
- C Viam perficere, i. e. to attain an end, Just. Inst. proöem. 1.
semen quod secus viam cecidit duplici laesura disperiit
quis autem nescit semitam angustiorem esse quam viam?
pro quo strictior fiat publica via
et unaqueque civitas tot magistras vias quot magistras portas habet ad theloneum et consuetudines(
si quis homo archiepiscopi effodit illam regalem viam quae vadit de civitate ad civitatem
caput ipsius ‥ in trivio universalis vie illud positurus ad signum
secus viam bigarum
una via in foresta domini episcopi est estupata per hominem sagriste Dunelmensis
abuttant uno capite super viridem viam inter Carton' et Estfeld'
abuttant ‥ super le Greneweye
dicunt quod ‥ alta via et generalis inter Brehull’ et Pidinton’ ‥ omnino esset astopata(
tres alias vias profitabiles ad burgum de Adgareslep(
predictum S. extra domum suam traxerunt [et ] in vica regia ipsum verberaverunt
pro injusta via facta ultra ceparale domini
communis via ‥ est ruinosa pro defectu obscuracionis fossatorum(
ita quod non sint communes latrones nec derobatores viarum
invenimus vias mirabiliter tritas per Gallicanum exercitum
via pedestris regis ‥ defecta est
octo vacce capellani cum equo secundum ordinem pascantur per quatuor vias
agmine stellarum multo varioque refulget / celestis via que lactea nomen habet
fundavit ‥ domum [sc. ecclesiae ] columnis variis ‥ suffultam ‥ variis anfractibus viarum aliquando sursum aliquando deorsum per cocleas circumductam
de omnibus consuetudinibus quas exigebat de eis in furnis et molendinis ‥ in viis terrarum et aquarum
per quandam viam subterraneam, clausis januis dicti castri, infra illud sunt ingressi
pro xxiiij crat’ emptis pro viis super dicta scaffota faciendis
in reparatione cujusdam vie de camera xxx s.
dicit quod, decem annis elapsis, non fluxit ille aque ductus, modo vellent ducere per aliam viam
sperma ‥ per urinales vias et nucham ad virgam descendit
ysofagus est via cibi in gutture
trache arteria est via hanelitus
repente ductor substitit ‥ gressum retorquens ipsa me qua venimus via reduxit
videnda est via per quam discurrunt [sol et luna ], que est in zodiaco circulo
alius ‥ Saturnus fuit extra vias solis, id est zodiaci
unde te intromittis? vade vias tuas
ut per illam viam peregrini transire cessarent, preeligentes longiorem in circuitu peregrinacionem suscipere
recta se via ‥ ad hospicium dirigit matris
venit ‥ exercitus paganorum ad Sanduuic et recta via perrexerunt Cantuareberi
ibis cum tuis recta via ad cellam tuam(
de monachis in viam directis hunc morem coenobia illa tenent
omnes peregrini et quicunque ad orationem vel mercatum ‥ venerint ‥ in tota via ‥ sint securi
viam arripuit in portum cui nomen Sandeford imponitur
in via, ubi tanta varietas, tanta diversitas et adversitas, tanta distractio ‥ est
qui sanctis suis virtutem prestat in via, et premia largitur in patria
queritur utrum ultima perfeccio anime humane sit causata effective ab anima, sive in via sive in patria
sed habebunt visionem certissimam in clarissimo Dei verbo sicut et Christus habuit hic in via
in viam patrum exiit exspectans diem Domini in judicio venturo
eodem anno beatae memoriae Marinus papa universitatis viam migravit
sic eodem momento viam universae nationis Domino ducente incedam
Theobaldus ‥ plenus dierum decretam universe carnis ingreditur viam
leo ‥ per viam eis obvians familiaris et obsequiosus die nocte eis fuit usque in Egyptum
pro herburgagio per viam ‥ per x dies, eundo, morando, et redeundo
ad locum qui vocatur F., sc. media via inter H. et S.
in predicta prisona ‥ remanent, sunt in via gravis desperacionis et perdicionis vite eorum
circa perquisicionem possessionis ‥ dicti jocalis, cum sepius fuerat, propter deposicionis incuria, in via deperdicionis
eos in carcere mittebat. ‥ et ille rex respondit ‥ ‘da eis viam et sine illos abire’
liberam viam eundi et redeundi pacifice ab abbacia usque ad aquam de B.
cum libera via antiqua et consueta versus molendinum predictum
preterea concessi eisdem liberam viam ultra pasturam meam
et hospitali S. Leonardi pro licentia vie ad pistrinam in Usegate in Ebor’ ij s.
elemosinario prowaylefe , vj s. viij d.
tenetur episcopus dare eis unam viam que dicitur Lonynge per quam possent ire ad magnam moram
difficulter posse sublimitatem animi regalis ad humilitatem viae salutaris ‥ inclinari
per apostolicae doctrinae publicam pergite stratam, nec per diverticula cujuslibet novitatis ‥ a via regia declinate
fertur tunicam induisse ‥ arctam et arduam viam que ducit ad vitam ita agressa est
Hugo et illius antecessores ‥ artam vite viam tenuerunt et per eandem ‥ discipulos ad Christum perducere moliti sunt
genus hominum ‥ quibus vestra discretio omnem salutis viam querebatur esse preclusam
quesierat iste Paulinus an esset via in scripturarum intelligenciam
Abraham ‥ primus omnium manifeste in veram theosophiam viam invenit
Brettones confitentur ‥ intellexisse se veram esse viam justitiae quam praedicaret Augustinus
multos ‥ praedicando ad viam veritatis perduxit
anima ‥ puram veritatem respuat et falsitatis viam intendat
fratrum minorum conversatio est populi cum quo habitant ‥ ad currendum ‥ in viam pacis ‥ stimulatio et propulsio
si qua eciam via pacis alia brevior nobis et regno nostro magis idonea possit inveniri, nos et barones nostri ‥ illam proponimus imitari
in aliquam viam pacis concordabunt
ne ‥ via concordie ‥ diucius deferatur
ubi cito transgressio remittitur ‥ ne proniores ‥ sint isti ‥ ad recidivum, servet princeps planam viam justicie
ad te qui via, veritas, et vita es
solet aliquotiens in scripturis ordo verborum causa decoris aliter quam vulgaris via dicendi habet figuratus inveniri
omnis tibi via negandi precluditur, et confiteri necesse est
opponantur lux et tenebra ‥ non secundum viam contrariorum
si aliquis cum ‥ muliere contractus fuerit et ‥ mulier jus ‥ et seisinam ‥ in manus domini reddiderit et ille qui cum ea contractus est illud jus et seisinam de manu domini receperit, precluditur via in perpetuum quibuscunque heredibus ‥ mulieris
supplicavi regi ut, circumspecta via appellacionis ‥ filio meo ‥ dignaretur ‥ subvenire
exceptis duobus fratribus tantum ‥ quibus via scrutinii videbatur magis expedire
innata est nobis via cognicionis procedendo a communioribus ad minus communia
consequens falsum, sicut probabo quinque vel sex viis ‥ prima via est talis ‥
non apparet via ad probandum distinccionem specificam inter actus credendi, opinandi, et sciendi
sit consiliarius assidue inquisitivus et interrogativus viarum et modorum quibus est contra papam hereticum procedendum
questio: ‥ respondeo: prima via questionis abolenda est
omnia bona ‥ adipiscenda quacunque via ac titulo, viz. hereditario, adventicio, provecticio(
excogitare ‥ vias, modos, et media quibus posset eum depellere
via compromissi est bona et brevis
omnia facta guerre, inimicitie et vie facti cessabunt
theologus habet inquirere qua via contingat animam mereri
per viam districcionis ‥ precedere provocamur
propter calorem qui generatur via rarefactionis. sed ‥ alia infinita non generantur per rarefactionem
quicquid enim mali cuicumque a Deo acciderit est ad sui bonum vel commodum per viam purgacionis, per viam meriti augmentacionis, per viam magis mali precavicionis aut per viam pulchre punicionis
soluta pro quodam regaldo dato uni ministrallo ‥ via elemosinaria causa ejus paupertatis et etatis
volentes viis et modis quibus poterimus ‥ remedium opponere oportunum
rex ‥ omnia mandata apostolica viis et modis renuens
citationem quam vocant ‘viis et modis’ sigillo vicecancellarii obsignatam
notifico ‥ ad remissionem peccatorum meorum ‥ ut pascatis omni via [(AS: ] pauperem unum Anglicum indigentem, si sit ibi, vel alium inveniatisealle wega
viis omnibus oportuit tam dominum regem quam ceteros in loco eodem pernoctare
omnibus viis ac modis sibi possibilibus
miseram animam exalavit, viarum suarum fructus recepturus
utinam cito gentes ille Francorum ‥ ab injusticiis et viis suis pessimis ‥ resileant
➳ vea ou veha Varro R. 1, 2, 14 || gén. vias Enn. Ann. 441 ; viai Enn. Ann. 203 ; Lucr. 1, 406, etc. || dat.-abl. pl. vieis CIL 1, 593, 50 ; 56 ; 69.
- 1. weg, straat: (a) (buiten de stad) weg [militaris heerbaan; Appia (van Rome naar Brindisi); Flaminia (van Rome naar Rimini)]; ➤ viam facere, munire, aperire aanleggen, construeren; viam sternere plaveien; (b) (in de stad) straat, steeg [Sacra heilige straat (over het Forum Romanum naar het Capitool)]; ➤ viae se committere; ex via excedere of de via decedere van de weg gaan of de weg verlaten; viā ire op de (juiste) weg blijven; (c) alg. weg, pad, gang (bv. tussen de tenten in het legerkamp of tussen de rijen zitplaatsen in het theater); ➤ in viam se dare zich op weg begeven; alci viam dare plaatsmaken voor iem.; (d) baan van hemellichamen; ➤ lunam cursus viam sub sole tenere;
- 2. (meton.) mars, reis, gang [nocturna]; ➤ in via, inter viam onderweg; alci viam per fundum suum dare recht v. overpad geven; de via languere; unam tibi viam et perpetuam esse vellent zouden wensen dat je nooit terugkwam; mare et (of atque) viae, viae ac mare reizen over zee en land; rectā viā rechtstreeks (ook metaf.);
- 3. rechte weg (ook metaf.); ➤ de via declinare; de via decedere van het rechte pad;
- 4. (metaf.) pad, weg, middel, manier, wijze [vitae en vivendi levenswandel; leti naar de dood; salutis, potentiae toegang tot]; ➤ viam gloriae (of ad gloriam) inire, ingredi inslaan; aliā (eādem) viā op een andere (dezelfde) manier; — adv. viā met beleid, methodisch [progredi]: ratione et viā;
- 5. (a) buis in het menselijk lichaam, bv. slokdarm, luchtpijp; (b) (Verg.) spleet; (c) (Tib.) weefpatroon in een kledingstuk.
路。道路。街。階平處。行路。溝。何從。言次序。— publica vel militaris vel praetoria vel consularis 官路。大道。— trita vel tritissima 熟路。明路。— celebris vel copiosa 大路。通衝。— recta 直路。— deterrima vel inepta 不好路。— diflicilis vel ardua 難行之道。— difficilis clivis 難上之坡路。— inexplicabilis continuis imbribus 陰雨泥濘之路。— inextricabilis 汙泥之路。— facilis vel mollis 平路。— aperta simplex et directa 明直道。Viam inire vel invadere vel corripere 速行。速起程。Viam silice sternere vel consternere vel munire 修路。鋪石板。Multorum dierum viam progredi 行多日之路。In viam ingredi vel in viam se dare vel viae se committere 起程。就道。Viam facere 行路。修路。開路。Via errare vel deerrare vel de via declinare 失路。De via decedere 讓路。離路。迷道。Eum de via deducere vel eum recta via depellere 引錯路。Eum in viam deducere vel inducere 引導回本路。Eamem viam insistere 同走一條路。Insistere viam agendi hoc 找行此之法。Viae celebrantur 此路人往來不斷。Inter vias 路上。行次。Abi tacitus viam tuam 不言而行汝路。
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Une Vée soffisante que Guillaume Bouleuc et ses heritiers étoient tenus trouver par son lieu là où il li seroit mains damajant à moy et à Maheut ma fame,.... et à ceux qui de par nous entendroient à aller et à venir toutefois au dit pré. Vie,apud Lobinell. tom. 2. Hist. Britan. col. 1490 :
Depuis une Vie qui amoegne jusqu'à la Tour neufve.
Vie, in Charta admort. ann. 1412. ex Reg. 166. Chartoph. reg. ch. 272 :
Un petit ort, qui souloit estre chauchiere,...... une petite Vie entremi..... La Vie publique, etc.
(Carriere)latam 8. pedes : Viam,
Cheminumlatum 32. ped. et Viam regiam,
Chemin Viscontier, latam 30. Viam Castellaneam,
Si quis viam publicam, ubi Dux egreditur, vel Viam æqualem alicujus clauserit contra Legem, etc.Ubi Capitula Caroli M. lib. 5. cap. 201.
Si quis viam publicam aut lithostratum, vel Viam communemItaalicui clauserit contra legem, etc.
æqualis, est
communis.
Item alta Via et generalis inter Brehull et Pidinton maneria dom. Regis omnino esset astopata.
Dominus Brancaleo Potestas miles formosus et sapiens in castro Gavii (proh dolor) Viam carnis ingressus est universæ.
Dextrat et ducit eum per frænum per mediam Viam carrariam usque ad Ecclesiam S. Ambrosii.Vide Carreria 1.
De quibus hominibus et hostisiis eorum habebit idem Johannes justiciam et Viam communem cum dicto Reginaldo communiter.
pastoralis, in Lege Bajwar. tit. 9. cap. 14 :
De§ 15 :Via convicinali vel pastorali, qui eam alicui contra legem clauserit.
Semita convicinalis.
Via vicinalis,apud Siculum Flaccum, Aggenum, Ulpianum L. 2. §
Viarum, D. Ne quid in locis publ. etc. (lib. 43. tit. 8. fr. 2. § 22.) Adde Capitul. Pipini Regis ann. 744. cap. 38.
Vicinale iter, in Charta ann. 1052. inter Instrum. tom. 3. Gall. Christ. novæ edit. col. 198 :
Vadit per verticem ripæ dictæ Issolæ itinere Vicinali in medio, etc.
Vias vicinalesinter
publicas viasponit idem Ulpianus, ita tamen ut a Militaribus differant,
quæ exitum habent ad mare, aut in urbem, aut in flumina publica, aut ad aliam viam Militarem; cum
Vicinales, aut exitum habeant in vias Militares, aut sine ullo exitu intermoriantur, in L. 3. D. de Locis et itiner. publ. (43, 7.) Glossæ Basilic. :
Βικαναλία, ὁδὸς ἡ εἰς κώμην ἄγουσα.Ubi legendum
In fronte terra Kandors, in superiori namque fronte Via vicinabile, et habet in uno latere perticas agripedales 74. pedes 10. etc.
Item qui fulfreal fecerit, et quatuor Vias ei non dederit, etc.Vide in Manumissio.
Via Hierosolymitana,apud Fulconem tom. 4. Hist. Fr. Guibertus lib. 2. Hist. Hierosol. :
Terminato itaque Concilio, quod Claromonti habitum, circa B. Martini octavas, Novembri mense consederat, magnus per universas Franciæ partes rumor emanat, de proponenda Via Dei, (sic enim antonomastice vocabatur) contiguos sibi ac familiares quoque sollicitat.Chronicon Mauriniacense pag. 372 :
Cum Hierosolymis ire disponeret, in Capitulo nostro de Gummarvilla donum fecit, ut si in Via Dei, quod accidit, moreretur, etc.
Agger dicitur media stratæ eminentia, ex alternatis lapidibus strata, ab aggere et alternatione lapidum dicta, quam historici Viam militarem et Ferratam dicunt. Cheminum ferratum,in Charta ann. 1227. in Tabulario Ecclesiæ Meldensis fol. 32 :
A monte Dolio, usque ad Cheminum ferratum, quod vadit de Meldis ad Pontmorte.Ita Poëtæ nostrates passim. MS :
:A l'hostel va tout le ferré Chemin.
Robertus de Condato, MS :Puis acoillent lor erre tot le Chemin ferré.
MS :J'entrai en un Chemin ferrés.
MS :Si s'en tornerent le grant Chemin ferré.
MS. :Vers Augiers vont tout le Chemin ferré.
Chronicon Bertrandi Guesclini MS :Il regarda tot le ferré Chemin, Et vit la route parmi les prés venir.
Alibi :Et Dam Ferrant s'en va le Chemin grant ferré.
RobertusA la voie se mist par les Chemins ferrez.
Et chevauchent tout le Chemin ferré, tant que li jours lour faut.Scitum autem ejusmodi itinera,
quoniam medio ferme itinere inter Bagacum et Tongros vicum stringit Brunaltum, nomen inde retinuit,. Vide præterea Ægidium Bucherium in Belgico Romano lib. 1. cap. 12.La Chaussée de Brunaut , quod ipsum aliis quoque viis factum est commune
del Molinoin Repertorio Fororum Aragon. pag. 161. col. 4.
Galaxias, lacteus circulus, quod vulgo dicitur, Via S. Jacobi.
Per Viam Julii Cæsaris, quæ modo Mons Jovis vocatur, etc.Vide Simlerum de Alpibus.
Et ut strata securior iret, fecit fieri Potestas Viam levatam a Gavi usque cremiam Montis-cucelli.Vide Levata 3.
Domus fortis apud Marat, sita super stanno inter duas magnas Vias levatas.
Quæ Publica dici poterit, et ducit ad mare et ad portus, et quandoque ad mercata, inquit Bracton. lib. 4. tract. 1. cap. 16. § 7. Fleta lib. 4. cap. 6. § 3. Vide JC.
Confirmamus omnes res et possessiones, videlicet domos..... molendinum et Viam molarum, cum arboribus fructiferis et infructiferis.
Campum in Trisinitio super Viam munitam.
contradicere. Vide Obstare.
Concedo eis ut ibi faciant fossatum, quantum ad me pertinet, salvis originalibus Viis.
Latrones in terra ArchiepiscopiIn Consuetudine Andegavensi art. 60. et Cenomanensi art. 69 :(Turonensis) capti apud Caynonem...... sunt Archiepiscopi, nisi capti fuerint in Via Peageau.
Le grand Chemin Peageau doit contenir 14. pieds de large pour le moins.Vocis notionem produnt Leges Henrici I. Regis Angl. cap. 80 :
Unaquæque Civitas tot magistras Vias, quot magistras portas habet ad teloneum et consuetudines insignitas.
pedagiumexigitur. Vide in Pedagium.
Nous confessons que touz les chemins et frous des villes du Breuil, de Fleur-fontaines, du Coudreau appartiennent audit prieur et prieuré o toute justice, sauf à nous retenu et reservé les chemins qui sont nomez les Chemins reaus, voierez et Paaigerez.
Via ad pedes seu talon est communis et publica omnibus per eam meare et transire volentibus.
Parmi les grans chemins Pléniers Rissi pour aler en cele erre Le comte de Blois de sa terre.
Si quis Viam publicam, ubi Dux egreditur, vel viam æqualem alicujus clauserit contra Legem, etc.Occurrit etiam apud JC. Siculus Flaccus :
Sunt Viæ publicæ regales, quæ publice muniuntur, et auctorum nomina obtinent.Charta Adalberonis I. Episcopi Metensis apud Mauricium pag. 308 :
In publica Via, quæ dicitur Regia.
quadrigævadunt, in Tabulario Leprosariæ Pontis Audomari. Vide Carreria.
Tanta vero debet esse, ut inibi duo carri sibi possint obviari, et bubulci de longo stumbli sui possint assimulare, et 16. milites equitare possint armati de latere, et Via regia dicitur, quæ semper aperta est, quam nemo conclaudere potest, cum minis suis, quæ ducit in civitatem vel burgum, vel portum Regium.Will. Brito lib. 5. Philippid. pag. 153 :
De ejus latitudine, vide Statuta Davidis II. Regis Scotiæ cap. 26. n. 4. Bractonum lib. 4. tract. 1. cap. 16. § 7. Fletam lib. 1. cap. 24. § 8. Consuetudines Claromont. art. 130. Ambian. art. 185. Bononiensem art. 157. Turon. art. 59. 84. Lodunensem cap. 5. art. 1. Normann. art. 623. Solensem tit. 36. art. 2. Santaudomarens. art. 17. Placitum apud Pinendenum inter Lanfrancum Archiepiscopum et Odonem Bajocensem Episcopum, apud Seldenum ad Eadmerum pag. 199 :Nos Via regalis Gisortum ducat oportet.
Demonstratum fuit, quod Rex Anglorum nullas Consuetudines habet in omnibus terris Cantuariensis Ecclesiæ, nisi solummodo tres.... Una, si quis homo Archiepiscopi effodit illam Regalem Viam, quæ vadit de civitate in civitatem. Altera, si quis arborem incidit juxta Regalem Viam, et eam super ipsam viam dejecerit, etc.Adde pag. 200.
Sanctum iter,apud Guillelmum
Qui in Via Sanctorum fuerint, viduæ, et quæ filios non habent adultos et arma ferentes, et puellæ sine Advocato, nullas debent consuetudines.Summula Raimundi Ordin. Prædicat. :
Vide Via Dei.Si raptor fueris, aut usurarius, aut fur, His, si consilium dederis, vel opem, scio quod non Te Via Sanctorum, nec Crux, nec Passio Christi Absolvat, quin sint hæc omnia reddita, reddi Si poterint.
Unum jornale in fovea Diaboli et in Via semitata de dicto Prailleio.
Eo tempore quo rex Francorum et rex Anglorum ob succursum terræ Jerosolymitanæ cruces acceperunt, ego quoquecælesti pulsatus desiderio, Viam sepulchri aggredi deliberavi.
Qui (hospites) manent apud pratella, sicut Via viaria et metæ dividunt et demonstrant. Chemin voieré,in Charta ann. 1330. Vide locum supra in Via Pedagiaria.
Ego vero simul cum quibus eram, pauperum more secusAlia notione, vide in Via convicinalis.Viam vicinalem sedentes, exspectabamus in loco, quo mihi præcepit angelus Domini.
Littera consensus dom. Ludovici Regis præstiti per eum super redemptione Viæ ultramarinæ quam per juramentum tenebatur facere Ingerranus de Coussiaco ratione delicti et forefacti per eum commissi et per dictum Regem translati et transmutati in dictam Viam ultramarinam... anno 1261.
Voie d'Oultremeire, in Charta ann. 1424. tom. 2. Hist. Leod. pag. 446. Sed et quælibet peregrinatio a nostris
Voie de Rochemadou, in Ch. ann. 1355. ibid. pag. 422. Lit. remiss. ann. 1368. in Reg. 100. Chartoph. reg. ch. 535 :
Lequel Michault fu condampné par la loy de Tournay en une amende de lx. livres et à faire une Voie à S. Jaques en Galice.
Viarumet
itinerumexstructiones ac reparationes inter publica onera recensentur, a quibus nemo, cujuscumque dignitatis esset, immunis erat, ut est in tit. de Itinere muniendo in Cod. Th. et in leg. 4. Cod. de Privileg. domus augustæ.
Purgatio seu stramentum, vel impletio cœnosorum itinerum, Monacho Sangallensi lib. 1. de Carolo M. cap. 32. quo spectant, quæ habet Cogitosus, in S. Brigida pagin. 637 :
Cum Regis illius patriæ per plebes et provincias, quæ sub ejus erant ditione, præceptum invalesceret, ut de omnibus ejus regionibus et provinciis convenirent populi omnes, atque ædificarent viam latam et firmam ramis arborum, petris in fundamento positis, et munitionibus quibusdam firmissimis in gronna profunda et pene intransmeabili, et in locis humentibus, atque in paludibus, in quibus grandis currebat fluvius ; quæ constructa quadrigas et equites, et currus, et plaustrorum rotas, et impetum populorum, atque incursum undique hostium sustentare posset. Convenientibus autem undique populis per cognationes et familias diviserunt Viam illam, quam ædificare debuerant in partes proprias, ut unaquæque cognatio et familia suam sibi creditam construxisset partem, etc.Vide Pons.
Habita inter nos deliberatione provida et matura super omnibus Viis et modis, quibus schisma.... posset... facilius sedari et extirpari, et ipsa Ecclesia ad unionem reduci, Via cessionisOccurrit præterea apud Rymer. tom. 8. pag. 353. 381. et alibi : sed et Latio etiam eo significatu vox nota et usurpata est.utriusque partis,.... præ cæteris quibuscumque Viis elegimus et eligimus tanquam breviorem.
Mercatores reddent quatuor solidos tantum, et ita erunt quiti de navigio illo, nisi quod reddent pro gubernaculo de qualibet Via unum denarium.Id est, pro qualibet vice.
Duabus Viabus, pro Vicibus, in Vita MS. S. Amabilis.
Si tortitudinem aliquis hominum monachorum fecerit præposito nostro, non cogat eum præpositus noster in curia Viam et rectum facere.
Item conductor operarum, si non solverit die conventionis de solvendo factæ, vel intra diem sequentem, post præstitas operas, Via executiva quoad bona solvere cogatur.
Pro labore et expensis dictorum Ricardi et Ricardi, centum marcas per Viam regardi.Alia ann. 1432. ibid. pag. 514 :
Ambassiator domini nostri Papæ, nuper per ipsum domino nostro Regi certis de causis missus, habeat de dono Regis, per Viam regardiId est, beneficii seu mercedis titulo. Occurrit rursum pag. 522. et 526. Vide Regardum 1.l. Marcas.
- VAG-, a way, highway, road, path, street: Roma, non optimis viis: ire in viā, T.: omnibus viis notis essedarios emittebat, Cs.: via, quā Assoro itur Hennam: viā ire, by the highway, L.: tres ergo viae, a supero mari Flaminia, ab infero Aurelia, media Cassia: Via Sacra, H.: castra angustiis viarum contrahit, etc., i. e. of the passages(between the tents), Cs.—Prov.: qui sibi semitam non sapiunt alteri monstrant viam, Enn. ap. C.: totā errare viā, T.— A way, passage, channel, pipe, entrance: omnes eius (sanguinis) viae, i. e. veins: a medio intestino usque ad portas iecoris ductae viae, ducts: Spirandi viae, the windpipe, O.: Finditur in solidum cuneis via, a cleft, V.: harundo Signavit viam flammis, its path, V.—A way, march, journey: in viam se dare: tridui, a three days' journey, Cs.: longitudo viae, L.: Flecte viam velis, V.: lassus maris et viarum, H.: inter vias, on the road, T.—Fig., a way, method, mode, manner, fashion, course: ut rectā viā rem narret, i. e. directly, T.: vitae via conversa, H.: rectam vitae viam sequi: haec una via omnibus ad salutem visa est, L.: gloriae: (di) non . . . nullas dant vias nobis ad significationum scientiam.—Abl, by the right way, in the proper manner, correctly, unerringly, properly: in omnibus quae ratione docentur et viā, primum, etc.: ipsus secum eam rem reputavit viā, T.: viā et arte dicere.
-
…. unum etiam nunc concedam exeant, proficiscantur, ne patiantur desiderio sui Catilinam miserum tabescere. demonstrabo iter Aurelia via profectus est ; si accelerare volent, ad vesperam consequentur. O fortunatam rem publicam, si quidem hanc sentinam…
Cicero, in Catilinam
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…nuntiatum est ei Ariovistum cum suis omnibus copiis ad occupandum Vesontionem, quod est oppidum maximum Sequanorum, contendere triduique viam a suis finibus processisse. Id ne accideret, magnopere sibi praecavendum Caesar existimabat. Namque omnium rerum quae ad…
Julius Caesar, Gallic War
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…minus facile resisti posset. Itaque re frumentaria quam celerrime potuit comparata magnis itineribus ad Ariovistum contendit. Cum tridui viam processisset, nuntiatum est ei Ariovistum cum suis omnibus copiis ad occupandum Vesontionem, quod est oppidum maximum Sequanorum ,…
Julius Caesar, Gallic War
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…possent conati, operis munitione et militum concursu et telis repulsi, hoc conatu destiterunt. Relinquebatur una per Sequanos via, qua Sequanis invitis propter angustias ire non poterant. His cum sua sponte persuadere non possent, legatos ad…
Julius Caesar, Gallic War
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…consulem, mihi aut cum his vivendum aut pro his esse moriendum. nullus est portis custos, nullus insidiator viae si qui exire volunt, conivere possum ; qui vero se in urbe commoverit cuius ego non modo factum sed…
Cicero, in Catilinam
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…rumpantur iniqui vicimus assiduas non tulit illa preces. falsa licet cupidus deponat gaudia livor destitit ire novas Cynthia nostra vias. illi carus ego et per me carissima Roma dicitur, et sine me dulcia regna negat. illa vel…
Propertius, Elegies
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…ac fontibus ora relaxant et defrenato volvuntur in aequora cursu. Ipse tridente suo terram percussit at illa intremuit motuque vias patefecit aquarum. Exspatiata ruunt per apertos flumina campos cumque satis arbusta simul pecudesque virosque tectaque cumque suis rapiunt penetralia…
Ovid, Metamorphoses
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…Quid virgo cuia est Nescio hercle. Unde est Tantundem. Ubi habitat Ne id quidem. Ubi vidisti In via. Qua ratione amisti Id equidem adveniens mecum stomachabar modo ; Nec quemquam esse ego hominem arbitror cui magis bonae…
Terence, Eunuchus
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…facta valent. in me tardus Amor non ullas cogitat artis, nec meminit notas, ut prius, ire vias. at vos, deductae quibus est fallacia lunae et labor in magicis sacra piare focis, en agedum dominae…
Propertius, Elegies
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…. Olim isti fuit generi quondam quaestus apud saeclum prius. Hoc novum est aucupium ego adeo hanc primus inveni viam. Est genus hominum, qui esse primos se omnium rerum volunt, Nec sunt hos consector. Hisce ego…
Terence, Eunuchus
(ὁδός). A road. The earliest roads in Greece were the sacred ways, which led to the most important religious centres, where national festivals were celebrated, such festivals also serving the purpose of public markets or fairs. In general, the Greeks set a high value on well-levelled roads, which made travelling easy; but, in the best days of Greece, only unpaved roads were known, paved roads being of comparatively late origin.
The finest work in ancient road-making was that done by the Romans, who, mainly for military purposes, connected Rome with her newly acquired provinces by means of high-roads. They laid out their roads as far as possible in straight lines. The nature of the ground was almost entirely disregarded; where mountains intervened they were broken through, and interposing streams and valleys were spanned with bridges and viaducts.
The first Roman high-road, which, even in its present condition, is worthy of admiration, was the Via Appia, so called after the censor Appius Claudius, who constructed it. It was made in B.C. 312 to join Rome to Capua, and was afterwards continued as far as Brundisium. This “queen of roads,” regina viarum (Stat. Silv. ii. 2, 12), was a stone causeway, constructed, according to the nature of the country, with an embankment either beneath or beside it, and was of such a width that two broad wagons could easily pass each other. The surface was paved with polygonal blocks of hard stone, generally basalt, fitted closely together, and so laid down that the middle of the road was at a higher level than the sides, to allow the rain-water to run off. According to a subsequent method, the Roman roads first received a foundation of rubble or breccia, on which rested a layer of flat stones eight inches thick; above this was an equally thick layer of stones set in lime, which was covered by another layer of rubble about three inches deep. Above the rubble was laid down the pavement proper, consisting of either hard stone (silex) or else irregular blocks of basaltic lava.
In the time of the emperor Hadrian, the cost of constructing such a road amounted to $4500 per Roman mile (about 4/5 English mile). From the end of the second century B.C. posts set up at a distance of 1000 paces from each other served to measure distances. See miliarium.
The making and maintenance of the roads in Italy were provided for at the expense of the aerarium, or State treasury. During the republican age the roads were under the supervision of the censors. From the time of Augustus they were under imperial officials entitled curatores viarum. In the provinces, in general, the cost of the military roads, and indeed of all public works, was defrayed out of the provincial taxes. In the imperial provinces soldiers were also frequently employed in constructing roads. In a few cases toll was levied by special imperial permission. The following list of the great Roman roads that issued directly from the capital will be convenient for reference:
I. The Via Appia, the Great South Road. It was in perfect repair when Procopius wrote, long after the devastating inroads of the northern barbariaus; and even to this day the cuttings through hills and masses of solid rock, the filling up of hollows, the bridging of ravines, the substructions to lessen the rapidity of steep descents, and the embankments over swamps, demonstrate the vast sums and the prodigious labour that must have been lavished on its construction. It issued from the Porta Capena, and, passing through Aricia, Tres Tabernae, Appii Forum, Tarracina, Fundi, Formiae, Minturnae, Sinuessa, and Casilinum, terminated at Capua, but was eventually extended through Calatia and Caudium to Beneventum, and finally from thence through Venusia, Tarentum, and Uria, to Brundisium.
The ramifications of the Via Appia most worthy of notice are:
(a) The Via Setīna, which connected it with Setia.
(b) The Via Domitiāna struck off at Sinuessa, and, keeping close to the shore, passed through Liternum, Cumae, Puteoli, Neapolis, Herculaneum, Oplonti, Pompeii, and Stabiae to Surrentum, making the complete circuit of the Bay of Naples.
(c) The Via Campāna or Consulāris, from Capua to Cumae, sending off a branch to Puteoli, and another through Atella to Neapolis.
(d) The Via Aquillia began at Capua, and ran south through Nola and Nuceria to Salernum; from thence, after sending off a branch to Paestum, it took a wide sweep inland through Eburi and the region of the Mons Alburnus up the valley of the Tanager; it then struck south through the very heart of Lucania and Bruttium, and, passing Nerulum, Interamnia, and Consentia, returned to the sea at Vibo, and thence through Medma to Rhegium. This road sent off a branch near the sources of the Tanager, which ran down to the sea at Blanda or the Laus Sinus, and then continued along the whole line of the Bruttian coast through Laus and Terina to Vibo, where it joined the main stem.
(e) The Via Egnatia began at Beneventum, struck north through the country of the Hirpini to Equus Tuticus, entered Apulia at Aecae, and, passing through Herdonia, Canusium, and Rubi, reached the Adriatic at Barium, and followed the coast through Egnatia to Brundisium.
(f) The Via Traiāna began at Venusia and ran in a nearly straight line across Lucania to Heraclea on the Sinus Tarentinus; thence following, southward, the line of the east coast, it passed through Thurii, Crotona, and Scyllacium, and completed the circuit of Bruttium by meeting the Via Aquillia at Rhegium.
(g) A Via Minucia is mentioned by Cicero, and a Via Numicia by Horace, both of which seem to have passed through Samnium from north to south, connecting the Valerian and Aquillian, and cutting the Appian and Latin Ways. Their course is unknown. Some believe them to be one and the same.
II. The Via Latīna, 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 Tusculāna) to Tusculum, and, passing through Compitum Anagninum, Ferentium, Frusino, Fregellae, Fabrateria, Aquinum, Casinum, Venafrum, Teanum, Allifae, and Telesia, joined the Via Appia at Beneventum.
A cross-road, called the Via Hadriāna, running from Minturnae through Suessa Aurunca to Teanum, connected the Via Appia with the Via Latina.
III. From the Porta Esquilina issued the Via Labicāna, which, passing Labicum, fell into the Via Latina at the station ad Bivium, thirty miles from Rome.
IV. The Via Praenestīna, originally the Via Gabīna, issued from the same gate with the former. Passing through Gabii and Praenesté, it joined the Via Latina just below Anagnia.
V. Passing over the Via Collatīna as of little importance, we find the Via Tiburtīna, which issued from the Porta Tiburtina, and, proceeding northeast to Tibur, a distance of about twenty miles, was continued from thence, in the same direction, under the name of the Via Valeria, and, traversing the country of the Sabines, passed through Carseoli and Corfinium to Aternum on the Adriatic, thence to Adria, and so along the coast to Castrum Truentinum, where it fell into the Via Salaria.
A branch of the Via Valeria led to Sublaqueum, and was called Via Sublacensis. Another branch extended from Adria along the coast southward through the country of Frentani to Larinum, being called, as some suppose, Via Frentāna Apŭla.
VI. The Via Nomentāna, anciently Ficulnensis, ran from the Porta Collina, crossed the Anio to Nomentum, and, a little beyond, fell into the Via Salaria at Eretum.
VII. The Via Salaria, also from the Porta Collina (passing Fidenae and Crustumerium), ran north and east through Sabinum and Picenum to Reaté and Asculum Picenum. At Castrum Truentinum it reached the coast, which it followed until it joined the Via Flaminia at Ancona.
VIII. Next comes the Via Flaminia, the Great North Road, commenced in the censorship of C. Flaminius, and carried ultimately to Ariminum. It issued from the Porta Flaminia, and proceeded nearly north to Ocriculum and Narnia in Umbria. Here a branch struck off, making a sweep to the east through Interamna and Speletium, and fell again into the main trunk (which passed through Mevania) at Fulginia. It continued through Fanum Flaminii and Nuceria, where it again divided, one line running nearly straight to Fanum Fortunae on the Adriatic, while the other, diverging to Ancona, continued from thence along the coast to Fanum Fortunae, where the two branches, uniting, passed on to Ariminum through Pisaurum. From thence the Via Flaminia was extended under the name of the Via Aemilia, and traversed the heart of Cisalpine Gaul through Bononia, Mutina, Parma, Placentia (where it crossed the Po), to Mediolanum. From this point branches were sent off through Bergomum, Brixia, Verona, Vicentia, Patavium, and Aquileia to Tergesté on the east, and through Novaria, Vercelli, Eporedia, and Augusta Praetoria to the Alpis Graia on the west, besides another branch in the same direction through Ticinum and Industria to Augusta Taurinorum. Nor must we omit the Via Postumia, which struck from Verona right down across the Apennines to Genoa, passing through Mantua and Cremona, crossing the Po at Placentia, and so through Iria, Dertona, and Libarna, sending off a branch from Dertona to Asta.
Of the roads leading out of the Via Flaminia in the immediate vicinity of Rome, the most important is the Via Cassia, which, diverging near the Pons Mulvius, and passing not far from Veii, traversed Etruria through Baccanae, Sutrium, Vulsinii, Clusium, Arretium, Florentia, Pistoria, and Luca, joining the Via Aurelia at Luna.
(a) The Via Amerīna broke off from the Via Cassia near Baccanae, and held north through Falerii, Tuder, and Perusia, reuniting itself with the Via Cassia at Clusium.
(b) Not far from the Pons Mulvius the Via Clodia separated from the Via Cassia, and, proceeding to Sabaté on the Lacus Sabatinus, there divided into two, the principal branch passing through central Etruria to Rusellae, and thence due north to Florentia, the other passing through Tarquinii, and then falling into the Via Aurelia.
(c) Beyond Baccanae the Via Cimīna branched off, crossing the Mons Ciminus, and rejoining the Via Cassia near Fanum Voltumnae.
IX. The Via Aurelia, the Great Coast Road, issued originally from the Porta Ianiculensis, and subsequently from the Porta Aurelia. It reached the coast at Alsium, and followed the shore of the lower sea, along Etruria and Liguria, by Genua, as far as Forum Iulii in Gaul. In the first instance it extended no farther than Pisa.
X. The Via Portuensis kept the right bank of the Tiber to Portus Augusti.
XI. The Via Ostiensis originally passed through the Porta Trigemina, afterwards through the Porta Ostiensis, and kept the left bank of the Tiber to Ostia. From thence it was continued, under the name of Via Severiāna, along the coast southward through Laurentum, Antium, and Circaei, till it joined the Via Appia at Tarracina. The Via Laurentīna, leading direct to Laurentum, seems to have branched off from the Via Ostiensis at a short distance from Rome.
XII. Lastly, the Via Ardeatīna, from Rome to Ardea. According to some, this branched off from the Via Appia.
Travelling on the public roads was facilitated by the establishment of (a) mutationes (ἀλλαγαί) or posting-houses, where horses were changed and vehicles were obtainable if required; and (b) mansiones (καταλύσεις), stations, caravansaries, or resting-places, where the journey could be conveniently broken. The towns and places where a halt on one ground or the other could be made are frequently detailed in the Antonine Itinerary. See cursus publicus; itineraria.
The following illustration of a part of the Via Stabiana at Pompeii shows four stepping-stones. They are to be found in nearly every street in the town, whatever its breadth. The narrower streets are practically blocked by single large stones in their centres; the broader streets are crossed by rows, containing from two to five stones. Their shape is, generally, a flat-topped oval: larger and smaller stones lying side by side. They measure, very commonly, about three feet by eighteen inches, and have their longer axis parallel to the footway on either side of the street. The height of the footway ranges from twelve to eighteen inches above the carriage-way, and the particular height is, in most cases, that of the stepping-stones also. The surface of the street being elliptical, the stone on the centre stands slightly higher than those at the sides. Many streets are marked with wheel-ruts, some of them deeply cut. They are found both in the interstices between the steppingstones and elsewhere. The distance from rut to rut measures, as a rule, one yard, which was, accordingly, the gauge of the ordinary vehicles. Some special consideration of these stepping-stones is desirable.
Until the reign of Septimius Severus (A.D. 193- 211) riding and driving, both in Rome and in the provincial towns, were closely restricted, and at times forbidden, by law (C. I. L. i. 206; Marquardt, Privatleben, ii. 727-738). Claudius (A.D. 41-54) forbade travellers to drive in carriages through provincial towns (Sueton. Claud. c. 25). Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 161-180) again forbade riding and driving in provincial towns. Under Severus carriages, in Rome at least, seem to have been more commonly used (Dio Cass. lxiv. 4).
Thus, the street-traffic of the ordinary Roman provincial town seems to have resembled that of the Tangier or Tetuan of to-day. Heavy burdens were carried on the backs of horses, mules, or cattle. Walking was the rule, riding on horseback or in a litter was the exception, driving almost unknown. Before the date of the edict of Claudius, and perhaps later, the law was probably indulgent to towns such as Baiae and Pompeii. Thither came the “carriage-company” of Rome to seek health and spend money. In the case of Pompeii carriages and horses were, beyond a doubt, confined to certain streets. An extant inscription shows that the station of the cisiarii was not even within the town walls. (See cisium.) Other streets were always reserved for foot-passengers, and possibly for litters. Others, again, once open to all traffic, and still bearing the marks of wheels, were afterwards closed to all but foot-passengers by huge steppingstones or iron gratings.
The deep ruts already mentioned were the natural result of confining the traffic to a few streets. None of these were broad enough to allow of any considerable variation of the track, even had the fixed stepping-stones presented no additional difficulty. Moreover, there is evidence that some of the existing pavements bore traffic for at least 120 years. It is not surprising that even a small amount of wheeled traffic, unrelieved by the use of springs, and acting on the same stones for so many years, should have left deep traces behind.
The reasons for the erection of very large stepping-stones were, no doubt, at once local and practical. Pompeii occupies the summit and slopes of a small hill. Hence the lower streets, according to the drainage level of the ground, received the rain-water and refuse of the upper. In times of heavy rain the lower streets must have flowed like a torrent. No sewerage-system could have at once mastered the downward rush of the water. Indeed a similar sight may now be witnessed, during the winter rains, in the heavily paved streets of Florence, where stepping-stones of the largest size would not be out of place. At Pompeii, where the lie of the ground, together with the close-set stone surface and sides of the streets, provided a ready-made watercourse, sidewalks of substantial height were absolutely necessary to foot-passengers. The means of crossing from one sidewalk to another, in any weather, were therefore naturally provided by stepping-stones of corresponding size.
See Bergier, Histoire des Grands Chemins de l'Empire Romain (Brussels, 1736); Burn, Rome and the Campagna (London, 1870); and Middleton, Remains of Ancient Rome (1892).