Travelling first class? Emperors, dignitaries and intellectuals on the roads of the Roman Empire

Abstract

Ancient sources are very generous in telling us of journeys undertaken by various categories of people, from emperors to the very poor. During these trips, all travelers made use of the available accommodation and refreshment for themselves and their animals, stopping over at inns or hostels, sometimes at private houses or in public institutions, or even “ camping” along the road. In this paper, we will survey part of this rich catalogue of people from all walks of life, focusing on those who traveled for ‘ state’ or ‘ diplomatic’ reasons. We will try to understand whether their means of travel differed from those of common people, in addition to the fact that many high officers, magistrates and even some intellectuals were provided with a diploma, the pass that awarded the right to make free use of certain facilities offered at roadside stations. In this way, we will investigate whether there is any archaeological evidence to support the existence of different ranks of accommodation spread along the roads of the Empire.