Roman Roads in Moesia Inferior. Archaeological and Epigraphical Evidence

Proceedings of the 22nd International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies, Ruse, Bulgaria, September 2012 Roman Roads in Moesia Inferior. Archaeological and Epigraphic Evidence Adriana PANAITE Moesia Inferior lies in the territory of two contemporary countries, Romania and Bulgaria, and that is why, in most cases, the system of Roman roads has been studied by taking into account the borders of modern states (Pârvan 1912, 575-585; Gajewska 1974, 62-88; Маджаров 2009). Even so, the researchers were mainly interested in locating some ancient toponyms, and less in establishing the courses and directions of the roads (Aricescu 1970, 297305; Aricescu 1971, 43-52; Aricescu 1975, 313-351; Aricescu 1977a; Aricescu 1977b). In this paper, we are trying to present the roads from Moesia Inferior based on archaeological and epigraphic evidence1. Traces of Roman roads have been preserved only in few places. So, the reconstruction of the system of Roman roads can be carried out based on inscriptions and other archaeological evidence, for example: parts of roads; settlements, stationes, mansiones etc. First, we take into account the milestones. So far, in the territory of Moesia Inferior 109 milestones have been discovered: 61 date between the 1st and 3rd century AD, and 41 are from Late Roman time (fig. 1-2). The texts are written in Latin, with the exception of four pieces in Greek (Marcianopolis IGBulg II 797, Odessos IGBulg I2 251, IGBulg I2 252(a), Markovo IGB II 834). The oldest milestone dates back to the reign of Trajan (103 AD) and was discovered at Sacidava (Rădulescu / Bărbulescu 1981, 353-359), while the latest one is from the time of Theodosius and Arcadius (383-393), discovered in Kipra (SGLI 149). The road along the Danube (limes) was built at a very strategic position and fullfilled primarily a military role. Along it, at a determined distance there were stations, watch- and signaling towers2. Differences between distances indicated in itineraries and the real ones on the ground are quite numerous. This is due to the fact that none of the original stations built along the way has been archaeologically investigated yet. Moreover, we still pay tribute to descriptions made in the late nineteenth century or the beginning of the next. In addition, research on these fortifications is mainly related to their functioning during the Late Antiquity3. The limes road starts from Singidunum and is built entirely on the right bank of the river (Barnea 1987, 77-86; Иванов 1999). At the Danube Delta, it meets the road that runs along the Black Sea coast to reach Constantinople. Construction began in the reign of Tiberius with the works at Djerdap – Iron Gate (Mirković 1996, 27-40), and continued during the times of Claudius (Petrović 1986, 4152), Domitian (ILJ 55, 58) and Trajan (Mirković For detailed presentation of sources in order to reconstruct the Roman road network in Moesia Inferior see: Panaite 2012, 67-80. Tabula Peutingeriana: Dortico XXV Ad Malum XVI Ratiaris XII Remetodia IV Almo IX Pomodiana IX Camistro XII Regianum VI Augustis XX Pedonianis XI Esco XIV Vio (Uto) IX Anasamo XVII Securispa XIII Dimo XVI Ad Novas IX Latro XVI Trimamio XII Pristis IX Tegris XIV Appiaris XIII Trasmarisca XII Nigrinianis XIII Tegulicio XI Durostero XVIII Sagadava XII Sucidava XVII Axiopolis XVIII Calidava XVIII Carsio XXV Bereo XXI Troesmis IX Arubio XXVI Noviodunum XLI Salsovia XXIV Ad Stoma; Itinerarium Antonini: Dortico m. p. X Bononia m. p. XVII Ratiaria, leg. XIIII G. G., m. p. XVIII Almo m. p. XVIII Cebro m. p. XVIII Augustis m. p. XVIII Variana m. p. XII Valeriana m. p. XII Oesco, leg. V Mac., m. p. XII Dimo m. p. XII Novae, leg. I Ital., m. p. XVI Scaidava m. p. XVIII Trimammio m. p. VII Sexantapristis m. p. XII Tigra m. p. XIII Transmariscam m. p. XVI Candidiana m. p. XIII Teclitio m. p. XII Dorostoro, leg. XI Cl, XII m.p. Sucidava XVIII m.p. Axiopolis XII m.p. Capidava XVIII m.p. Carsium XVIII m.p. Cius X m.p. Beroe XVIII m.p. Troesmis, leg.I Jovia XVIII m.p. Arrubio IX m.p. Diniguttia IX m.p. Novioduno, leg. II Herculea XX m.p. Aegiso XXIV m.p. Salsovia XVII m.p. Salmorude IX Vale Domitiana XVII Ad Salices. 3 See further Маджаров 2009, 131-184. 1 2 594 ADRIANA PANAITE Fig. 1. Milestones from Moesia Inferior I-III centuries AD 595 Fig. 2. Milestones from Moesia Inferior III-IV centuries AD ROMAN ROADS IN MOeSIA InferIOr. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND EPIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE 596 1996, 27-40), so the road stretched to cross the entire area4. A number of 40 milestones have been found along this road and the inscriptions on them date to the following emperors: 1 – Trajan, 4 – Antoninus Pius, 5 – Marcus Aurelius, 5 – Septimius Severus, 3 – Maximinus Thrax, 2 – Gordian III, 2 – Philip the Arab, 1 – Decius, 1 – Valerianus and Gallienus, 3 – Aurelian and Probus, 9 – Tetrarchy, 4 – Constantine, 1 – Valens5. The road along the Black Sea coast connects urban centers of ancient tradition, from the Danube Delta to Constantinople, the capital of the empire6. The road plays a decisive role in terms of trade. While economic considerations prevail, the strategic aspect of this route should not be overlooked either, since the road was one of the main access ways from the south into this area. Originally, the road was not “set up”, and the movement was done mainly by sea. The Romans took over the already existing route and transformed it into a road in the real sense of the word. A number of 37 milestones have been found along it. The inscriptions date to: 2 – Hadrian, 2 – Antoninus Pius, 8 – Marcus Aurelius, 5 – Septimius Severus, 2 – Maximinus Thrax, 1 – Gordian III, 1 – Decius, 2 – Valerianus and Gallienus, 1 – Claudius II, 1 – Aurelian and Probus, 1 – Tacitus, 6 – Tetrarchy, 5 – Constantine7. The road crossing Bulgaria’s northern part, along a line north of the Balkan Mountains and parallel with the limes, is only partly shown in Tabula Peutingeriana and does not appear at all in Itinerarium Antonini. The segment presented in Tabula Peutingeriana is the one between Melta and Marcianopolis, with only one station in between at nicopolis ad Istrum. The route connected Bononia – Montana – Čomakovci – Melta – nicopolis ad Istrum – Marcianopolis – Odessos. Seven milestones have been discovered along it. They ADRIANA PANAITE date to the reigns of: 1 – Marcus Aurelius/Commodus (?), 2 – Septimius Severus, 1 – Maximinus Thrax, 1 – Gordian III, 2 – Valerianus and Gallienus, 1 – Tacitus and 1 – Constantine. The central road crossesd Dobroudja from north to south, from noviodunum / Aegyssus to Marcianopolis, passing through Zaldapa, Tropaeum Traiani, Medgidia and Ulmetum. It is not represented in any ancient itinerary, its path being established on the basis of archaeological and written sources8. There are 10 milestones that have been discovered along it, most of them dating to the Tetrarchy period (293-305 A.D.), but also from earlier times (Hadrian, Septimius Severus)9. Connections between main roads were ensured by secondary access routes. From the limes road, more west-east and north-south oriented traffic routes diverged and reached the province of Thrace or the Black Sea coast. 18 milestones have been discovered along them. These roads are: Oescus (Gigen) is the starting point of two strategic sections southwards to Serdica and Philippopolis (Аврамов 1914; Маджаров 2004). From Guljanci and Čerkovica camps two junctions go south, following the courses of the rivers Vit and Osâm. They crossed the main road Oescus – Philippopolis in Pleven (the Vit river) and Loveč (the Osâm river) (Велков 1929, 63; Poulter 1983, 76; 1995, 8-9 and fig. 6; Иванов 1960, 276). In novae (Svištov), from the main road a secondary road with a significant strategic role branched out, reaching southwards to the river Rosica, Stari Nikjup (nicopolis ad Istrum) and continues through the Shipka Pass to Stara Zagora (Augusta Traiana). A second road goes to Melta and further to Philippopolis (Стефанов 1956, 72-73; Poulter 1995, 8-9 and fig. 6). From Sexaginta Prista (Ruse) southwards two 4 Preparing for the war with the Dacians, Trajan built new fortifications or reinforced existing ones: Stobi, Scupi, Lederata, Dierna, Drobeta, Pontes, Diana. A navigation canal was also built. Based on epigraphic information it is possible to reconstruct the chronology of Trajan's war preparations, which took place in two stages: until 100 AD and between the two wars. The inscriptions show that the fortifications and the limes road were not built at the same time, construction work progressed from west to east, the digging of the canal ended in 101 AD and the bridge over the Danube was built between the wars. 5 Panaite 2013 (in print). See also Panaite 2012, 67-80. 6 Tabula Peutingeriana: Histria XL Tomis XII Stratonis XXII Callatis – XXIII – Trissa – XII – Bisone – XII – Dyonisopoli – XXXII – Odessos – XI – Erite – XVI – Templo Iovis – XVI – Mesambria – XII – Ancialis. Itinerarium Antonini: Historio XXV Tomos XXXVI Callacis XXX Timogittia XVIII Dionysopoli XXIV Odisso XXIV Marcianopoli XVIII Scatris XXVI Anchialis. 7 See footnote 5. 8 Barnea 1997, 29-43; Panaite /Alexandrescu 2009, 429-455. 9 The analysis of which shows that the Romans started to build the road from south to north in the time of Hadrian and some parts were repaired during the Severan dynasty. An extensive restoration campaign occurred during the Tetrarchy period. An additional argument would be the construction of the road parallel with the limes and the crystallization of the strategic concept of “defense in depth” in the times of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius. 597 Fig. 3. Roman Roads in Moesia Inferior ROMAN ROADS IN MOeSIA InferIOr. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND EPIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE 598 major sections parted, which connected the limes with some large urban areas. One led along the Beli Lom river valley to Razgrad (Abritus) and Devnja (Marcianopolis), and the other – along Černi Lom and Jantra river valleys to Gorna Orjahovica, Veliko Târnovo, Gabrovo and Stara Zagora (Шкорпил 1914, 88-89; Иванов 1981, 48-54; Петров 2002, 313-317) Durostorum (Silistra) is a junction point of the major strategic road. A section heading to Marcianopolis, another to Ajtos, and one to Zaldapa. From each of these localities the road then projects to large urban centers in the province (Tropaeum Traiani), on the coast (Callatis and Odessos) and Thrace (Anchialos) (Torbatov 1997, 2000a, 2000b; Петров 2002, 313-317; Poulter 1995, 9). Capidava was connected with the Black Sea coast road by two roads, which reached Tomis and Histria (Pârvan 1913b, 394-396, Panaite 2004, 5455; Panaite 2013, in print). From Axiopolis diverged a section which ran along Carasu valley to Tomis. This is the shortest route that crosses transversally Dobrudja from the Danube to the Black Sea (Panaite 2004, 54-55; Panaite 2013, in print). From Carsium there is another important road connecting the limes and the Black Sea coast, crossing the Dorobantul plateau on an almost straight trajectory towards Istria (Barnea 1997, 29-43). Troesmis is the starting point of another road from the Danube to the Black Sea along the Taita Valley and the lakes of the northern plateau Babadag (Topraichioi, Babadag) (Ştefan 1971). The rivers that flow into the Danube also had roads along them (mostly on their right banks): Cibrica, Ogosta, Iskâr, Vit, Osâm, Jantra, Rusenski Lom. The second category of sources is represented by the inscriptions mentioning beneficiarii consularis, lower rank soldiers in charge of guarding the roads. In the territory of the province 48 such inscriptions have been discovered. They come from the main and the secondary roads. A high concentration of them is registered in the Montana area, but also in other places along the road parallel to the the limes (at Glava Panega in the Asklepion). In terms of dating, they fall largely in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, and most of them date to the second half of the 2nd and the first half of the 3rd century AD (Schallmayer et al. 1990, 469-506, 758-759; Ivanov 1993, 26-30). Some inscriptions discovered in Moesia Inferior and Thracia record annex buildings erected along the Roman roads for military purposes. These date to ADRIANA PANAITE emperors nero, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius and have been discovered at Ihtiman (mansio Helice – Ivanov 1973, 209-213), Bučin (Филов 1912, 16-17), Mihilci (CIL III 6123 = CIL III 14207/34 = ILS 231), Belozem (statio Parembole – Hollenstein 1975, 28), Nevša (Мирчев 1961, 15-16, #14), Šipka (Буюклиев / Гетов 1964, 29-33), Bâlgarski Izvor (ILBulg 211), Pančevo (Кацаров 1926-27, 107-112), Vojnjagovo (statio Viamata – Маджаров 1985). The first four inscriptions are dated in 61 AD and attest to the construction of praetoria and tabernae along military roads. Praetorium means a military construction for superior rank officers. Another word is an inn, so a construction for the accommodation of superior rank officers, namely a fortified residence on the road. Tabernae is an ordinary inn to offer overnight shelter and food for civilian travelers. The next four inscriptions are from 152 AD, the time of Antoninus Pius, when a number of military constructions with a defensive role appeared on the road. There were military detachments stationed, sometimes beneficiarii consularis are also attested. The last inscription is from the time of Marcus Aurelius. Unlike others, in this the term stabulum appears – which in translation means stables, where animals for travel could be changed. In Lower Moesia two inscriptions contain the expression via publica. The first one, written in Greek, is a complaint to the emperor by the inhabitants of Chora Dagei, a settlement located near the “public road” (ISM I, 378). They ask that their obligations for road maintenance (leitourghiai, angareia = munera) be reduced. The same inscription mentions a second location, Laikos Pyrgos, where a “public road” previously started, and whose inhabitants, having the same problems in carrying out the public tasks, complained about them to the governor. The second inscription, in Latin, comes from Ulmetum (Pantelimonu de Sus) (ISM V, 60), and is most likely a delimitation decision of an estate; among other elements bordering it there is a reference to viam publicam. The roads were under the protection of the gods, Mercury and Mars in particular. Intersections of roads had their particular deities: Diviae, Triviae, Quadriviae (junction of 2, 3 or 4 roads), deities of Celtic or Illirian origin , who were worshiped in specific sanctuaries named compita. Protective deities of the roads attested in Moesia Inferior are Apollo Agyeus and Quadriviae. Apollo Agyeus appears on two inscriptions discovered at Tomis (ISM II, 116). The term Agyeus (= protector of roads) accompanies as epithet the name of deity. The inscriptions ROMAN ROADS IN MOeSIA InferIOr. ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND EPIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE 599 from Tomis are from the time of Marcus Aurelius. They were put by their dedicators in relation with the extensive reconstruction works on the road. Several Latin inscriptions attest the cult of Quadriviae in the province – in novae (ILnovae 22, 23), Oescus (ILBulg 40) and Tomis (Tocilescu 1879, 45, 19). With the exception of one inscription from novae, for the rest of them the place of discovery is unknown. The one in novae was accidentally discovered near the western gate. We can only suppose the existence in that area of a temple dedicated to this deity. Excavations and field research provide information about the structure of the roads or the various stop points along the roads (statio, mutatio, mansio). With the use of this type of data, it is possible to trace the lines of the local roads (semitae) as well (Panaite 2006, 57-80; 2010, 373-379). Information based predominantly on the inscriptions allow us to outline the following steps of the construction and use of the road network in Lower Moesia (fig. 3): • Trajan lay the foundations of the system of roads in Moesia Inferior. After the conquest of Dacia, the limes stretched way up the Danube Delta, where gradually new branches appeared, which determined the articulation of a real communication network. Also at this time the coast road was “modernized“ and the construction of the road parallel to the limes began. Trajan’s successor started con- struction of the central road through Dobrudja. • The next stage was during the reign of Antoninus Pius. In his time, along the inner routes new types of fortifications were built in order to protect the roads. • The moments of maximum intensity in terms of constructive work are represented by emperors Marcus Aurelius and Septimius Severus. A large number of milestones dated to their reigns (26) indicates real repair programs designed to ensure the proper functioning of the roads. Not only surface circulation was considered, but also the annex buildings. • After the events of the mid-3rd century, two well-defined moments in the evolution of the system of Roman roads in the Lower Danube area can be identified: the first one is the time of Diocletian and Constantine, and the second one – that of Anastasius and Justinian. Both periods are characterized by reforms that lead to the transformation of the state, which, ultimately, extended the existence of the Empire for a long time. For the Lower Danube area, this is a particular time. 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