Latest / Nero: Mad Tyrant or Misunderstood Emperor? — Fexingo History / Nero's Macedonian Road: The Via Egnatia Rebuilt
Transcript
- Lucas: So, we've talked a lot about Nero's projects in Rome and Greece—the Domus Aurea, the Corinth Canal, the Olympic games. But today I want to look at something that connected all of that: a road. A very famous road. Luna: The Via Egnatia? The one that ran from the Adriatic to Byzantium? Lucas: Exactly. The Via Egnatia was built by the Romans in the 2nd century BCE, right after they conquered Macedonia. It was named after the proconsul Gnaeus Egnatius, who oversaw its construction. It ran from Dyrrhachium on the Adriatic coast—modern-day Durrës in Albania—all the way to Byzantium, about 1,120 kilometers. It was the Roman version of the Egnatia Odos, the modern highway that still runs through Greece and Turkey. Luna: So it was kind of a highway to the East. But why did Nero care about it? He wasn't exactly known for road maintenance. Lucas: That's the thing—Nero actually did invest in roads, though it's often overlooked. The Via Egnatia was in rough shape by his reign. It had been neglected for decades, especially after the civil wars. And Nero had a clear motive: the Parthian conflict. In the early 60s AD, Rome was in a tense standoff with Parthia over Armenia. Nero's general Corbulo needed supplies and reinforcements moving quickly from Italy to the Eastern front. The Via Egnatia was the quickest route by land—troops could march from Brundisium to Dyrrhachium by sea, then follow the road east. Luna: So it was about military logistics. But wasn't there also a trade angle? Lucas: Absolutely. The Via Egnatia wasn't just for soldiers—it was the backbone of trade between Rome and the Greek East. Goods from Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt would come through the Aegean ports and travel west along this road. In return, Italian wine, olive oil, and manufactured goods flowed east. Nero understood that a well-maintained road meant more commerce, more tax revenue, and more stability in the provinces. Lucas: And the timing was perfect. In 66 AD, after the successful Parthian settlement, Nero was at the height of his popularity in the East. He went on his famous tour of Greece in 67 AD, where he proclaimed the freedom of the provinces. During that trip, he personally oversaw the start of the Corinth Canal project. But he also directed a major overhaul of the Via Egnatia. Luna: Wait, so the road rebuilding was part of his Greek tour? Do we have any archaeological evidence for that? Lucas: We do, actually. There are milestones along the Via Egnatia that bear Nero's name, dating to 67-68 AD. One was found near the ancient city of Heraclea Lyncestis, in modern North Macedonia. It reads: 'Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribunician Power... restored the Via Egnatia from Dyrrhachium to Byzantium.' That's a big deal—it shows he claimed credit for the whole route. Luna: That's impressive. So he wasn't just talking about it—he actually put up markers. Lucas: Yes, and the roadwork was substantial. Roman roads were built with a layered foundation—sand, gravel, and then large stone slabs. On the Via Egnatia, they also had to reinforce bridges and causeways, especially through the mountainous terrain of Epirus and Macedonia. Nero's engineers probably widened the road in sections to allow two-way traffic for military convoys. Lucas: But here's an interesting detail: the road wasn't just a military project. Nero also encouraged local cities to contribute. Inscriptions show that magistrates and wealthy citizens in towns like Thessalonica and Philippi funded sections of the road. It was a way to show loyalty to the emperor and gain prestige. Luna: So it was part of Nero's broader strategy to win over the Greek East. Philhellenism in action. Lucas: Exactly. By investing in infrastructure, he was showing that he cared about the provinces, not just Rome. The Via Egnatia also connected to other roads leading to the Danube frontier and the Black Sea, so it had strategic value beyond the Parthian campaign. And it paid off—the road remained in use for centuries after Nero's death. Luna: I've read that the Via Egnatia was used by the Byzantine Empire and even the Ottomans. Did Nero's rebuild last that long? Lucas: Parts of it did. The Roman engineering was so solid that later empires just repaired rather than rebuilt. The Byzantine via Egnatia followed essentially the same route, and the Ottomans used it for their military campaigns into Europe. Even today, the modern Egnatia Odos highway in Greece runs roughly parallel to the ancient road. So Nero's investment had a legacy of nearly two thousand years. Luna: That's incredible. But wasn't there also a scandal around the funding? I remember something about Nero confiscating land to pay for the road. Lucas: You're thinking of the Corinth Canal, which was partly funded by forced contributions from Greek cities. For the Via Egnatia, it's less clear. There are hints that Nero may have imposed a special tax on the province of Macedonia to fund the reconstruction, or requisitioned labor from local communities. But the surviving sources don't give us a clear picture. Tacitus and Suetonius don't mention the road at all, which is odd given its importance. Luna: Why wouldn't they mention it? Maybe because it wasn't controversial enough? Lucas: Possibly. The Roman historians were more interested in Nero's scandals—the murders, the fires, the artistic performances. A road project didn't make for good gossip. But the archaeological evidence is clear: Nero did invest in the Via Egnatia, and it was one of his most enduring achievements. Lucas: There's also a connection to the Jewish revolt. In 66 AD, the same year Nero ordered the road rebuild, the First Jewish-Roman War broke out. Nero had to send legions—the V Macedonica, X Fretensis, and XV Apollinaris—to Judea. Those troops likely marched along the Via Egnatia through Macedonia and then south to Syria. So the road was absolutely critical for Rome's military response. Luna: So the Via Egnatia was the highway that held the empire together. And Nero made sure it stayed that way. Lucas: Exactly. And think about the symbolism: the road started at Dyrrhachium, right across from Brundisium—the gateway to Italy. It ended at Byzantium, the future Constantinople. Nero probably didn't imagine that, but his road helped make that city accessible for centuries. Luna: It's fascinating how infrastructure outlasts the man. Nero's reputation took a beating, but the Via Egnatia kept working. Lucas: That's the thing about Roman roads—they were built to last. And Nero, for all his flaws, understood that power wasn't just about palaces and performances. It was about moving people and goods efficiently. The Via Egnatia rebuild might not be as flashy as the Domus Aurea, but it had a far greater impact on the daily lives of Romans in the East. Luna: It makes you wonder what other 'boring' projects Nero did that historians ignored. Lucas: There are a few. He also rebuilt parts of the port of Ostia, improved the grain supply, and reformed the customs system in Asia Minor. But the Via Egnatia is a perfect example of how a single road can tell a bigger story about an emperor's priorities. For Nero, the East was a strategic and economic frontier worth investing in. Luna: And you can still drive on a version of it today. That's a wild legacy. Lucas: It really is. So next time you're on a highway thinking about ancient Rome, remember: Nero had a hand in that too.