The Via Appia, or Appian Way, is one of the world’s most famous roads. Begun in the 300s BCE it stretched from ancient Rome to the port of Brindisi on the Adriatic. From Rome’s Aurelian walls, one can still walk, or bike, for several miles southeast of the city. Monuments can be found along its route for about 9 miles; they peter out about a kilometer past the Villa dei Quintili. Flanked by umbrella pines along most of the route, there are many sections of the huge Roman basalt paving stones still visible, with chariot tracks worn into them. Strewn alongside the road are myriad fragments of long ago dismembered tombs and their inscriptions. Today a herd of about 300 goats and sheep were being driven along it by a black dog who seemed to know exactly how to get them to their fields for grazing. It was a scene that one might have been able to see 2200 years ago. Today, however, you’re more likely to see a family on mountain bikes going on an outing. A pleasant scene, but in 71 BCE it might have been otherwise: it was then that Rome crucified 6000 slaves from Spartacus’ army after their leader was killed. The Romans lined the Via Appia from Rome to Capua, where the rebellion had begun.