Via Labicana
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Via Labicana, an ancient highroad of Italy, leading east southeast from Rome. It seems possible that the road at first led to Tusculum, that it was then prolonged to Labici, and later still became a road for through traffic; it may even have superseded the Via Latina as a route to the southeast, for, while the distance from Rome to their main junction at Ad Bivium (or to another junction at Compitum Anagninum) is practically identical, the summit level of the former is 725 feet lower than that of the latter, a little to the west of the pass of Mons Algidus. After their junction it is probable that the road bore the name Via Latina rather than Via Labicana. The course of the road after the first six miles from Rome is not identical with that of any modern road, but can be clearly traced by remains of pavement and buildings along its course.
Via Labicana entered Rome through the ancient monumental gate of Porta Prenestina, and reached, after an internal part, the Servian Wall, entering through the Porta Esquilina, decorated with the arch of Gallienus.
The section of the road near Rome is now known as the Via Casilina.
A statue of Augustus as pontifex maximus found at a villa of Livia on this road is known as the 'Via Labicana type' and is housed at the National Roman Museum.
The Roman Emperor Didius Julianus was buried by the fifth milestone on the Via Labicana, after being executed in 193.
[edit] References
- T. Ashby in Papers of the British Schoól at Rome, i.215 sq
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
