DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL MILESTONES FOUND ALONG THE VIA AXIA ROAD ROUTE IN THE VARDAR RIVER VALLEY AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AS ELEMENTS OF THE ANCIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

Abstract

The Tabula Peutingeriana depicts the Via Axia, a southern branch of the Via Militaris, which split from the road at Nis and followed the Vardar River to Thessaloniki. Via Axia is an important thoroughfare in the region along the Vardar river valley in Macedonia. Known as Axius in antiquity, the Vardar River was referenced by Herodotus, Thucydides, Pliny, Strabo, and in Homer’s Iliad. Several ancient cities and fortresses were located along this route. Milestones, cylindrical stone pillars, marked distances, travel directions, and stations, as shown on the Tabula. The road, coming from Ulpiana, and through Kačanicka Klisura passed by General Janković, where several milestones were found, showing the distance to Skupi, then continued to Skopje, Taor, and Katlanovo, confirmed by multiple milestones. It continued through Veleshko Kale - Ad Cephalon, then it led through the Pčinja gorge, past Gradište near Zgropolci - Gurbita, through Gradsko and the ancient city of Stobi - Stopis, passing through Antigonia and Stenas - Klisursko Maalo/Banja. A milestone from Constantine I’s era (early 4th century) was found near Demir Kapija.The road also passed through Miravci, and reached Isar Marvinci-Idomenia, confirmed by another inscription, that marked the distance from Idomene to Dober. The road from here through the city of Tauriana - New Dojran via Gallicum arrived in Thessalonica. Milestones and inscriptions discovered along the way highlight the Romans’ presence and activities in the region, proving the Via Axia’s significance as a key route in the Roman Empire for both economic and military purposes.