The Milion was a marker from which all distances across the Roman Empire were measured. Erected by Septimus Severus in the 3rd century AD in Byzantium, it was the Byzantine zero-mile marker, the starting-place for the measurement of distances for all the roads leading to the cities of the Byzantine Empire. It thus served the same function as the Golden Milestone in Rome's forum. The domed building of the Milion rested on four large arches, and it was expanded and decorated with several statues and paintings. It survived the sack of Constantinople in 1204 and the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453 but had disappeared by the start of the 16th century. During excavations in the 1960s, some partial fragments of it were discovered under houses in the area.
A fragment of the Milion has been re-erected as a pillar.
Distances of major modern cities from the Milion.
The label on the remains of the Milion
Reconstruction of Byzantion's Milion based on historic accounts and remaining fragments. The arched structure is approximately 14.6 m wide.
Roman roads were physical infrastructure vital to the maintenance and development of the Roman state, and were built from about 300 BC through the expansion and consolidation of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. They provided efficient means for the overland movement of armies, officials, civilians, inland carriage of official communications, and trade goods. Roman roads were of several kinds, ranging from small local roads to broad, long-distance highways built to connect cities, major towns and military bases. These major roads were often stone-paved and metaled, cambered for drainage, and were flanked by footpaths, bridleways and drainage ditches. They were laid along accurately surveyed courses, and some were cut through hills, or conducted over rivers and ravines on bridgework. Sections could be supported over marshy ground on rafted or piled foundations.
A Roman street in Pompeii
Old Roman road, leading from Jerusalem to Beit Gubrin, adjacent to regional highway 375 in Israel
The central road of Aeclanum.
Section of the Via delle Gallie (Valle d'Aosta) in Italy, built by excavating the steep rock slope at left