Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Ancient and ArchaeologyΒ  permalink

Roman Roads

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by TonyG (U1830405) on Monday, 1st June 2009

  My Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome claims that roads probably had trackways running alongside them because horses, mules, etc. were usuallyunshod and could not use paved roads for any length of time. It also claims that oxen were often fitted with wooden overshoes so that they could pull wagons along the roads. Does anyone know whether this is correct?
  
  I know the roads were primarily intended to allow rapid troop move,ents and, numerically, most of the troops would have been foot soldiers, but the imperial messengers must have used the roads, and they used horses. Or did they indeed ride alongside the roads? I can;t recall seeing or hearing of any tangible evidence for this, but then, if they wer e simply earth tracks, there wouldn't be any evidence.

  Link to this forum: Roman Roads

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by lolbeeble (U1662865) on Tuesday, 2nd June 2009

  Hmmn, I can't find anything to support this idea. All harness evidence rules out the presence of towpaths for draught animals and it impossible for roads cut into mountains to have had any earthen trackway running alongside them in any case. As it stands there appears to be nothing to suggest that unshod horses could not use metalled Roman roads. Certainly hooves will adapt their growth pattern and harden if used on firm, rocky surfaces over a prolonged period.
  
  The Romans did use hipposandles of metal, wood, leather or rope to cover hooves but these were not permanently attached to the animal.
  

  Link to this forum: Roman Roads

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by TonyG (U1830405) on Tuesday, 2nd June 2009

  Thanks, lolbeeble. The theory seems to stem from the existence of these hipposandals. I think it runs something like - these were used, therefore hooved animals could not use paved roads, therefore unshod horses must have used some other path. I have certainly not come across this in any other reference book, and there are references to horses being used on roads or even within cities, e.g. Galba being mown down by cavalry in the forum.
  
  Having said that, I suppose it is possible that some roads had such paths in much the same way that some modern roads have cycle paths.

  Link to this forum: Roman Roads

  Report message3

Back to top