Tales of Ancient Roads Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sacred Way

The Iera Odos, or Sacred Way, dates back to the 15th century BC according to some historians. For centuries it was the only road in Greece. An annual pilgrimage took place along the Iera Odos in September. It began at the Acropolis in Athens, which was the meeting place for the pilgrims; the next stop was at the Sacred Gate at the ancient Kerameikos cemetery. The people were congregating to view an ancient rite called the Eleusinian Mysteries, where initiates were brought into the cult of Demeter. While many of the aspects of the rites were, well, a mystery, thousands of other people are said to have participated in the procession.

The Sacred Way was paved with asphalt in 1926 and now one can drive approximately 21 kilometers (13 miles) between the two cities. Tours are still given that follow the route and steps taken by the ancient initiates.

Answer: Appian Way

Construction of the first leg of the Appian Way was completed in 312 BC during the Second Samnite War in order to move soldiers and military supplies. It began in the Roman Forum and went through the Pontine Marshes to an area northwest of Naples, and on to Capua. Within a year, with the help of the improved road, the Second Samnite War was over. Eventually the road went all the way to Brindisi in southeast Italy, covering about 644 kilometers (400 miles). The road was laid so well that ancient writers commented that the stones seemed to grow together, they were that close together. The Romans called it "Appia longarum... regina viarum", or "the Appian Way the queen of the long roads".

Although the road fell into disrepair after the fall of the Roman Empire, a new road parallel to the old was started in 1784, but it did not cover the entire distance. Some parts are used today by cars and other traffic and some have been preserved for pedestrian travel.

Answer: Royal Road

Many history books credit the Persian king, Darius the Great, with the construction of the Royal Road in the 5th century BC, however, he probably rebuilt and expanded a road that had been used by the Assyrians. The historian Herodotus described the route of the road in great detail, from its beginning in Sardis on the Anatolian Peninsula to its end at Susa, one of the capitals of the vast Persian empire. There were also side roads that connected other Persian capital cities at Persepolis and, of course, the famous Silk Road. Over time the Royal Road was 2,699 kilometers (1677 miles) long. It is estimated that travelers who walked the road moved from end to end in ninety days. King Darius, however, would need faster communication or trade than that, and perhaps quicker troop mobilization as well, so a faster way using a type of pony express manned by the Persian cavalry was devised that could traverse the route in just nine days. When the area became part of the Roman empire, some parts of the road were further improved with stone paving.

Interestingly, Herodotus wrote, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers (Persian cavalry) from the swift completion of their appointed rounds". I bet you thought the U.S. Postal Service coined that phrase!

Answer: Amber Road

Amber, a gemstone made from fossilized tree resin, has been a popular material used in jewelry since at least the 1600th century BC. Found in northern Europe, in the Baltic Sea region where it washed up on the beaches, amber was an important trade item that even made its way to ancient Egypt - amber beads were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen, as well as Mycenae in Greece, where skilled artists carved amulets. It was mostly used for jewelry and other ornamentation, although some amber was burned and prized for its pine scent. Transported partly by rivers, including the Vistula in Poland and the Dnieper in Belarus, Russia, and the Ukraine, over time there were many routes used to transport the precious commodity, so it is difficult to say just how long the route was exactly. Trading continued into the Middle Ages, as amber beads were in demand for Catholic rosaries.

Today the term "Amber Road" is considered more of an archaeological term than an actual highway. Nevertheless, one can visit amber shops and museums on the route between St. Petersburg, Russia, and Rome or Venice to see the priceless treasures.

Answer: King's Highway

The King's Highway was quite important in ancient times as it was the route that connected the Cradles of Civilization - Egypt and Mesopotamia. It ran from Heliopolis in Egypt, across the Sinai Peninsula to Aqaba, and then north to the Euphrates River, covering 280 kilometers (174 miles) in modern day Jordan alone. It was mainly a trade route, and was used by many different people, including the Nabataeans who are famous for their main city, Petra, but, of course, served as an easy way to transport the military when needed as described in the Bible. Later on it became an important path for Christian pilgrims making the trek to Jerusalem and other holy places and Moslems who were making the Hajj to Mecca.

Today Highways 35 and 15 in Jordan follow the ancient path.

Answer: Silk Road

Arguably the most famous of all the ancient roads, the Silk Road was named for the profitable trade of silk. Back then, silk was only made in China, and the finished product travelled long distances to reach its destination, stopping at many trade cities along the way. Silk wasn't the only item of trade, as the Chinese also made exquisite porcelain, other fine goods, and sold exotic spices. It must be noted, however, that the road was significant not just for the easy exchange of goods it provided, but also for the exchange of ideas. And - of course - it facilitated the spread of the Black Death as well. Construction of the road began with the Han Dynasty (207 BC-220 AD); the road was expanded many times and there were eventually many branches that even included sea routes. It is said to have measured approximately 11,265 kilometers (7,000 miles).

Parts of the Silk Road still exist today - there is a paved road that connects Pakistan with Xinjiang, China - and there are more talks today about building more.

Answer: Post Track

There are many traces of ancient roads in England, however, the Post Track is the oldest. Dating from 3838 BC, during the Neolithic Age, the Post Track was made of ash and oak timbers that were set over marshy terrain about three meters apart. It is believed that the road linked farms, tombs, and spiritual places, and appears that as timbers were replaced as they wore out. Another road, the Sweet Track, was built about thirty years later; some historians believe that the earlier Post Track served as a construction platform for the later highway as the roads were built along the same course. Even though the Sweet Track was just 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) long, the work to build it must have been labor intensive at the time.

Parts of both roads still exist today and efforts have been made to preserve them. At the Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve visitors may walk on a reconstructed section of the road and view the original.

Answer: Grand Trunk Road

Originally called Uttarpatha, or the Northern Road, and part of an older road, the Grand Truck Road was constructed during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya in 300 BC. Used for travel, trade, and communication, the road eventually was approximately 3,670 kilometers (2,280 miles) long, and, as you can see, connected many parts of Central and Southeast Asia.

During the period of British colonial rule from 1833-1860, much of the road was rebuilt; it is still used today in India, and it connects to major highways in the locations mentioned, including National Highway 5 in Pakistan where it goes through the Khyber Pass.

Answer: Wittemoor Timber Trackway

Like many roads in Europe, the Wittemoor Timber Trackway was built over a bog. It dates to the Iron Age, 153 BC, and predates the building of Roman building in the area. It was a corduroy road, which means that logs were placed perpendicular to the course of the road to aid in crossing swampy, muddy land, and was just about 500 meters (1600 feet) in length. During excavations in the 1960s and 1970s, wooden cult male and female figures, that may represent the Norse gods Freyja and Freyr, were found along the road where it crossed a stream; evidence also showed that fires, perhaps for offertory purposes were burned there.

A portion of the trackway has been reconstructed and the figures may be viewed at the State Museum for Art and Cultural History in Oldenburg, Germany.

Answer: Qhapaq Nan

Qhapaq Ņan means "Royal Road" in the Quechua language. Although it is also called the Great Inca Road, its construction was begun in approximately 500 AD by the Wari culture located in Peru and, perhaps a bit later, by the Tiwanaku culture in Bolivia. Over the centuries, the road became an estimated 40,000 kilometers (25,000 miles) long according to some sources, and traveled through the Andes Mountains to tropical rain forests and the Atacama Desert. Featuring stone pavement, retaining walls, bridges, and drainage systems the road was used by soldiers, religious pilgrims, traders, messengers, and transportation by people who used pack animals and did not have the use of the wheel.

People may still trek through parts of the Great Inca Road today, but beware! It typically takes the straight path, but goes through terrain in hot temperatures and high altitudes. Modern roads have been built over parts of the original highway, and some sections have fallen into disrepair.