The Via Clodia was an ancient high road of Italy.[1] Situated between the Via Cassia and the Via Aurelia, it is different from them notably in that the latter was designed primarily for military long-haul, irrespective of settlements they met, but the Via Clodia was of short-range, intended for commercial traffic with the colonies in Etruscan lands.
The ancient Roman roads to the northwest. In blue the original trace of the Via Aurelia, in red the Via Cassia, in mauve the Via Clodia.The Via Clodia at Saturnia near to Porta RomanaTabula Peutingeriana: Part IV. Here the branch Pisa-Luni is not yet linked.
Its origin is uncertain, but most scholars agree that it was built by the Romans on an existing Etruscan route (between Pitigliano, Sorano and Sovana) on the path of the existing Etruscan "Via Cava"). However we can speak of the Via Clodia from the end of the 3rd century BC, and that from 225 BC it was paved. The existing road was probably used as a way of penetration and conquest of Etruria by the Roman army begun in 310 BC. The road never seems to have had heavy traffic, only connecting Rome with Etruria inner north-western cities. The stretch between Bracciano and Oriolo Romano continues a straight line whose paving stones are found here and there, often uprooted. Some basalt sections appear in the territory of Tuscania, Oriolo Romano, Vejano and Blera.
Its course, for the first 11 miles, was the same as that of the Via Cassia; it then diverged in a northwest direction and ran on the west side of the Lacus Sabatinus, past Forum Clodii and Blera.[2] According to some it ended in Saturnia. At Forum Cassii it may have rejoined the Via Cassia, and it seems to have taken the same line as the latter as far as Florentia (Florence). However, beyond Florentia, between Luca (Lucca) and Luna, we find another Forum Clodii, and the Antonine itinerary gives the route from Luca to Rome as being by the Via Clodia, wrongly as regards the portion from Florentia southwards, but perhaps rightly as regards that from Luca to Florentia. Clodius Vestalis was perhaps responsible for the construction of the first portion and of that from Florentia to Luca (and Luna). Moreover, he also founded the two Fora Clodii. The name seems, in imperial times, to have to some extent driven out that of the Cassia, and both roads were administered, with other minor roads, by the same curator.[3]
The Via Clodia Nova extension was constructed in 183 BC by the consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus. It started from Lucca and climbed the valley on the right bank of the river Serchio, crossed the Garfagnana region to the Piazza al Serchio, then passed over the col of Tea (955m) and through Fosdinovo before joining the Via Cassia, Luni and the port.
^Università della Tuscia - Viterbo (ed.). "Via Clodia".
^Thomas Ashby (1907). Ancient Remains Near the Via Clodia.
May 08, 2024
clodia, ancient, high, road, italy, situated, between, cassia, aurelia, different, from, them, notably, that, latter, designed, primarily, military, long, haul, irrespective, settlements, they, short, range, intended, commercial, traffic, with, colonies, etrus. The Via Clodia was an ancient high road of Italy 1 Situated between the Via Cassia and the Via Aurelia it is different from them notably in that the latter was designed primarily for military long haul irrespective of settlements they met but the Via Clodia was of short range intended for commercial traffic with the colonies in Etruscan lands The ancient Roman roads to the northwest In blue the original trace of the Via Aurelia in red the Via Cassia in mauve the Via Clodia The Via Clodia at Saturnia near to Porta Romana Tabula Peutingeriana Part IV Here the branch Pisa Luni is not yet linked Its origin is uncertain but most scholars agree that it was built by the Romans on an existing Etruscan route between Pitigliano Sorano and Sovana on the path of the existing Etruscan Via Cava However we can speak of the Via Clodia from the end of the 3rd century BC and that from 225 BC it was paved The existing road was probably used as a way of penetration and conquest of Etruria by the Roman army begun in 310 BC The road never seems to have had heavy traffic only connecting Rome with Etruria inner north western cities The stretch between Bracciano and Oriolo Romano continues a straight line whose paving stones are found here and there often uprooted Some basalt sections appear in the territory of Tuscania Oriolo Romano Vejano and Blera Its course for the first 11 miles was the same as that of the Via Cassia it then diverged in a northwest direction and ran on the west side of the Lacus Sabatinus past Forum Clodii and Blera 2 According to some it ended in Saturnia At Forum Cassii it may have rejoined the Via Cassia and it seems to have taken the same line as the latter as far as Florentia Florence However beyond Florentia between Luca Lucca and Luna we find another Forum Clodii and the Antonine itinerary gives the route from Luca to Rome as being by the Via Clodia wrongly as regards the portion from Florentia southwards but perhaps rightly as regards that from Luca to Florentia Clodius Vestalis was perhaps responsible for the construction of the first portion and of that from Florentia to Luca and Luna Moreover he also founded the two Fora Clodii The name seems in imperial times to have to some extent driven out that of the Cassia and both roads were administered with other minor roads by the same curator 3 Contents 1 Via Clodia Nova 2 Stages 3 Roman bridges 4 See also 5 ReferencesVia Clodia Nova editThe Via Clodia Nova extension was constructed in 183 BC by the consul Marcus Claudius Marcellus It started from Lucca and climbed the valley on the right bank of the river Serchio crossed the Garfagnana region to the Piazza al Serchio then passed over the col of Tea 955m and through Fosdinovo before joining the Via Cassia Luni and the port Stages editAccording to the Tabula Peutingeriana the stages on the Via Clodia are 4 Sextum in the current area of Rome called The Retort and where the Via Cassia separated Careias in the current area of Rome called Santa Maria di Galeria ad Nonas near Vigna di Valle Forum Clodii near San Liberato di Bracciano Olera Blera Tuscana Tuscania Marta on Lake Bolsena Maternum Canino or Ischia di Castro SaturniaRoman bridges editFurther information List of Roman bridges There are the remains of several Roman bridges along the road including the Ponte Piro and Ponte della Rocca 5 See also editRoman road Roman bridge Roman engineeringReferences edit William Smith 1854 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography Little Brown amp Company pp 870 William Ramsay 1894 A Manual of Roman Antiquities C Griffin pp 78 nbsp One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Ashby Thomas 1911 Clodia Via In Chisholm Hugh ed Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 6 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 553 Universita della Tuscia Viterbo ed Via Clodia Thomas Ashby 1907 Ancient Remains Near the Via Clodia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Via Clodia amp oldid 1190634378, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
