Appia Road Segment 10

From MESA (Ad Medias) to SHRINE OF  FERONIA (Lucus Feronia)

This stretch lies only partially under modern Appia road, which heads to the harbour of Terracina (Tarracina) , whereas Appia road leads, first to the “Rupe di Leano“, and from there to the Porta Maggiore of the city.

The area called “Mesa” probably coincides with the statio Ad Medias; its name could actually mean that it is half way from Decennovius (*) .

A completely destroyed republican (*) concrete mausoleum lies near a Pope’s postal 18th century rural house, with a square base overarched by a cylindrical drum ascribed to Clesippo Geganio.

The sides of the house’s main door are flanked with two Emperor Trajan (98-117 AD) milestones: the XLVIII (48) and XLVIIII (49).

Such milestones were particularly and richly decorated: they bear on top the progressive number of the cippus along road restored, in the middle the inscription celebrating the emperor and at the bottom the progressive number of miles from Rome(Urbe).

Inside the house there are other inscriptions related to the works of restoration of Appia road.

Going along the road, after the crossroads with the Priverno-Sabaudia street, we find in the area of Caposelce a two stone arch bridge dating back to the Trajan era (*).

3kms further down, the Uffente and Amaseno rivers flow into a parallel canal. From that point on, Appia road diverts from modern.

Just before the Sanctuary of Feronia (Lucus Feronia), where a clear source of water feeds a modern pasta laboratory, there is a “ponte Antico” (see G02 – Galliazzo n.125) on the river Acqua Traversa, where Appia road arrives supported by a terraced wall, the same utilized by “ponte Alto” (see G02 – Galliazzo n.124) destroyed during the second world war.

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in glossary.