Roman roads in Judaea

The purpose of constructing these roads in ancient Rome was to establish an extensive network of thoroughfares, similar to those found throughout the Roman Empire.

[1] These roads primarily served the movement of Roman military units and also facilitated public transportation, including mail delivery and travel for central government officials.

[4] From the headquarters of the Legio VI Ferrata, which camped at Legio, a strategic location on the Caesarea–Beit She'an road in the southern foothills of the Jezreel Valley near the modern Megiddo junction, roads were constructed in the year 120 CE to the provincial capital Caesarea,[5] to Sepphoris,[6] and to Acre.

[10] In the Western Land of Israel survey, conducted on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund by Conder and Kitchener in the years 1870 – 1880, the Roman roads were mapped.

[3][5] The Babylonian Talmud Tractate Shabbat records a debate among sages regarding the roads, bridges, and other public projects undertaken by the Romans and their impact on the Jewish population: Rabbi Yehuda opened and said: How pleasant are the actions of this nation (i.e. the Romans) as they established marketplaces, bridges, and bathhouses.

They established marketplaces to place prostitutes in them; bathhouses to pamper themselves; and bridges to collect taxes from all who pass over them.Archaeologist Israel Roll, who specialized in researching the issue, emphasizes the propaganda role.