Via Traiana Nova

The Via Traiana Nova (previously known as the Via Regia) was an ancient Roman road built by the emperor Trajan in the province of Arabia Petraea, from Aqaba on the Red Sea to Bostra. It was specifically known as the Via Traiana Nova in order to distinguish it from the Via Traiana in Italy. It is occasionally also referred to simply as the 'Via Nova' or 'Via Nova Traiana' Its construction started shortly after the annexation of Arabia, supervised by governor Gaius Claudius Severus, and completed under Hadrian.

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Via Traiana

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.

Background

Via Traiana was constructed in 109 AD 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. Thus the Via Appia, from which Via Traiana was constructed as an extension, lost its original importance as a military highroad that connected Venosa (Venusia) and Taranto (Tarentum). Furthermore, the maintenance of direct military communications between Venusia, the military colony of 291 BC, and Rome, was no longer needed except in times of civil war, and the Via Appia simply became a means of reaching Brindisi.

Route

Strabo indicates correctly that traveling to Beneventum from Brundisium via the route of the later Via Traiana was a good day shorter than the old Republican road, Via Appia. 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.

Via Traiana (disambiguation)

Via Traiana is a street in southern Italy.

Via Traiana may also refer to: