The Roman roads in Judaea form an extensive network built in the Roman period in the Roman province of Judaea (later Syria Palaestina). Remains of some still exist.
The purpose of constructing these roads in ancient Rome was to establish an extensive network of thoroughfares, similar to those found throughout the Roman Empire. [1] These roads primarily served the movement of Roman military units and also facilitated public transportation, including mail delivery and travel for central government officials. Additionally, the roads played an economic role in transporting goods and people. [1]
Some of the roads in the Judaea were paved following the First Jewish–Roman War (66-73), some during the time of Roman emperor Hadrian, and some during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. [2] The prominent characteristic of these roads was their use of the most convenient route possible from one point to another: a route that avoided natural obstacles, remained passable throughout the year, and had a gentle slope – suitable for pedestrian travel, riding, and vehicle passage. Along the roads, milestones were erected to mark the distance and direction, and there were forts and watchtowers where soldiers guarded the roads. [2] [3]
There are modern roads in Israel that utilize the routes of the ancient Roman roads. The most prominent example is the Ashkelon– Kiryat Gat– Hebron road (today Highway 35), which ascends to Hebron along a winding route with minimal incline. However, most of the ancient Roman roads in modern Israel were destroyed by the British, who paved roads over them. [4]
From the headquarters of the Legio VI Ferrata, which camped at Legio, a strategic location on the Caesarea–Beit She'an road in the southern foothills of the Jezreel Valley near the modern Megiddo junction, roads were constructed in the year 120 CE to the provincial capital Caesarea, [5] to Sepphoris, [6] and to Acre. [2]
The main longitudinal roads were:
The historic Jaffa-Jerusalem road passed through Lod, and split next to it into two roads: [10]
There are several modern roads that still follow the Roman routes: the most prominent of them is the Ashkelon - Kiryat Gat - Tarqumiyah- Hebron road, ( Highway 35 Israel) that leads to Hebron on a winding route. On the road from the Valley of Elah - Jerusalem (road 375) and on the old Bethoron road ( road 443) the Roman carved steps are still visible. [9]
In the Western Land of Israel survey, conducted on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund by Conder and Kitchener in the years 1870 - 1880, the Roman roads were mapped. In the emergency survey conducted in 1968 in the Judea and Samaria region, the roads were located again. After 1975, Adam Zertal pointed out the roads included in the Manasseh Hill Country Survey. [17]
As of 1982, more than 450 milestones had been identified in the Land of Israel and more than a quarter had inscriptions. [18] They were placed at a consistent distances of about 2000 paces (about 1.5 km) from each other. The milestones were usually made of limestone and were 150 on 250 centimeters high. [6]
Their function was mainly to provide information about travel distances for road travelers. But also to exalt the ruler who paves the way, whose name was mentioned on them. [3] [5]
The Babylonian Talmud Tractate Shabbat records a debate among sages regarding the roads, bridges, and other public projects undertaken by the Romans and their impact on the Jewish population:
Rabbi Yehuda opened and said: How pleasant are the actions of this nation (i.e. the Romans) as they established marketplaces, bridges, and bathhouses.
Rabbi Yosei was silent.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai responded and said: Everything that they established, they established only for their own purposes. They established marketplaces to place prostitutes in them; bathhouses to pamper themselves; and bridges to collect taxes from all who pass over them.
— Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat, 33b
Archaeologist Israel Roll, who specialized in researching the issue, emphasizes the propaganda role. He demonstrates it this way: when a man traveled from Jerusalem to Beit Gubrin, he sees on his way: "mathematical precision of 29 groups of millstones, which repeat and remind him of the titles of the great Roman emperors in the past and present - brainwashing - the embodiment of force of Roman power". [7] This hypothesis is also supported by the fact that millstones were not found in many places prior to the Jewish revolt against the Romans. In Roll's opinion, the rebels against Rome broke up these symbols of Roman emperors as part of their rebellion. [7]
Roman roads were mentioned in a famous Monty Python comedy sketch in which one character suggests that the Romans have done nothing for the people of Judea and several Roman contributions were brought up by other characters. [19] [20] [21] [22][ excessive citations]
a narrow road only from Lower Beit-Horon (Beit Ur al-Tachta, "Lower House of Straw") to Upper Beit-Horon (Beit Ur al-Fawqa, "Upper House of Straw") about two miles away, following roughly the route of the modern Highway 443 in Israel
The Roman roads in Judaea form an extensive network built in the Roman period in the Roman province of Judaea (later Syria Palaestina). Remains of some still exist.
The purpose of constructing these roads in ancient Rome was to establish an extensive network of thoroughfares, similar to those found throughout the Roman Empire. [1] These roads primarily served the movement of Roman military units and also facilitated public transportation, including mail delivery and travel for central government officials. Additionally, the roads played an economic role in transporting goods and people. [1]
Some of the roads in the Judaea were paved following the First Jewish–Roman War (66-73), some during the time of Roman emperor Hadrian, and some during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. [2] The prominent characteristic of these roads was their use of the most convenient route possible from one point to another: a route that avoided natural obstacles, remained passable throughout the year, and had a gentle slope – suitable for pedestrian travel, riding, and vehicle passage. Along the roads, milestones were erected to mark the distance and direction, and there were forts and watchtowers where soldiers guarded the roads. [2] [3]
There are modern roads in Israel that utilize the routes of the ancient Roman roads. The most prominent example is the Ashkelon– Kiryat Gat– Hebron road (today Highway 35), which ascends to Hebron along a winding route with minimal incline. However, most of the ancient Roman roads in modern Israel were destroyed by the British, who paved roads over them. [4]
From the headquarters of the Legio VI Ferrata, which camped at Legio, a strategic location on the Caesarea–Beit She'an road in the southern foothills of the Jezreel Valley near the modern Megiddo junction, roads were constructed in the year 120 CE to the provincial capital Caesarea, [5] to Sepphoris, [6] and to Acre. [2]
The main longitudinal roads were:
The historic Jaffa-Jerusalem road passed through Lod, and split next to it into two roads: [10]
There are several modern roads that still follow the Roman routes: the most prominent of them is the Ashkelon - Kiryat Gat - Tarqumiyah- Hebron road, ( Highway 35 Israel) that leads to Hebron on a winding route. On the road from the Valley of Elah - Jerusalem (road 375) and on the old Bethoron road ( road 443) the Roman carved steps are still visible. [9]
In the Western Land of Israel survey, conducted on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund by Conder and Kitchener in the years 1870 - 1880, the Roman roads were mapped. In the emergency survey conducted in 1968 in the Judea and Samaria region, the roads were located again. After 1975, Adam Zertal pointed out the roads included in the Manasseh Hill Country Survey. [17]
As of 1982, more than 450 milestones had been identified in the Land of Israel and more than a quarter had inscriptions. [18] They were placed at a consistent distances of about 2000 paces (about 1.5 km) from each other. The milestones were usually made of limestone and were 150 on 250 centimeters high. [6]
Their function was mainly to provide information about travel distances for road travelers. But also to exalt the ruler who paves the way, whose name was mentioned on them. [3] [5]
The Babylonian Talmud Tractate Shabbat records a debate among sages regarding the roads, bridges, and other public projects undertaken by the Romans and their impact on the Jewish population:
Rabbi Yehuda opened and said: How pleasant are the actions of this nation (i.e. the Romans) as they established marketplaces, bridges, and bathhouses.
Rabbi Yosei was silent.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai responded and said: Everything that they established, they established only for their own purposes. They established marketplaces to place prostitutes in them; bathhouses to pamper themselves; and bridges to collect taxes from all who pass over them.
— Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat, 33b
Archaeologist Israel Roll, who specialized in researching the issue, emphasizes the propaganda role. He demonstrates it this way: when a man traveled from Jerusalem to Beit Gubrin, he sees on his way: "mathematical precision of 29 groups of millstones, which repeat and remind him of the titles of the great Roman emperors in the past and present - brainwashing - the embodiment of force of Roman power". [7] This hypothesis is also supported by the fact that millstones were not found in many places prior to the Jewish revolt against the Romans. In Roll's opinion, the rebels against Rome broke up these symbols of Roman emperors as part of their rebellion. [7]
Roman roads were mentioned in a famous Monty Python comedy sketch in which one character suggests that the Romans have done nothing for the people of Judea and several Roman contributions were brought up by other characters. [19] [20] [21] [22][ excessive citations]
a narrow road only from Lower Beit-Horon (Beit Ur al-Tachta, "Lower House of Straw") to Upper Beit-Horon (Beit Ur al-Fawqa, "Upper House of Straw") about two miles away, following roughly the route of the modern Highway 443 in Israel