Research Article

Aquila's Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces

Volume: 29 May 11, 2025
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Aquila's Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces

Abstract

This study examines the socio-political landscape of the ancient city of Amastris (modern Amasra) through the lens of its road infrastructure, with a particular focus on the construction and significance of Aquila’s roads. Situated in the challenging terrain of northern Anatolia’s Küre Mountains, Amastris served as a vital maritime hub, linking diverse inland and coastal communities within Paphlagonia. Employing a multidisciplinary approach that integrates ancient literary analysis, archaeological evidence, geospatial modeling, and modern photogrammetry, this paper reconstructs the network of primary and secondary Roman roads emanating from Amastris. The research highlights the dual role of these roads in fostering territorial coherence and enhancing regional connectivity, supporting both local autonomy and imperial governance. Key findings demonstrate that Aquila’s roads were not merely infrastructural projects but strategic undertakings that blended private investment with public utility. These projects reflect the intricate interplay between individual agency and state interests in Roman provincial administration. Furthermore, the study explores the broader cultural and economic impacts of road construction on Amastris, illustrating how connectivity shaped civic identity, social integration, and territorial integrity. The paper concludes that Aquila’s road-building initiatives were instrumental in sustaining Amastris’s strategic significance and functionality within the Roman Empire. By examining the dynamic relationship between local and imperial priorities, this study offers insights into how infrastructure functioned as a nexus of governance, economic development, and regional integration in ancient Anatolia.

Keywords

Project Number

21BSS043

References

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  2. Bağdatlı Çam, F. 2020. “Bir Kente İsim Veren Kraliçe Amastris ve Yönetici Kültü.” TÜBA-AR 26, 91-110.
  3. Bağdatlı Çam, F. 2022. “Bartın İli Antik Dönem Yerleşimleri: 2017-2019 Yılı Araştırma Sonuçları.” In: F. Bağdatlı Çam (ed.), Bartın İli ve İlçeleri Yüzey Araştırması (Biya) İlk Tespitler ve Belgeler. Paphlagonia’dan Parthenios’a – I. Istanbul: Arkeoloji ve Sanat Yayınları, 13-112.
  4. Bakan, C. – Şerifoğlu, T. E. 2015. “Cytorus-Cide during the Hellenistic Period.” In: E. Laflı – S. Patacı (edd.), Recent Studies on the Archaeology of Anatolia. London: Archaeopress, 297-303.
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  7. Belke, K. 1996. Tabulae Imperii Byzantini 9. Paphlagonien und Honorias. Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Greek and Roman Period Archeology

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

May 11, 2025

Submission Date

November 23, 2024

Acceptance Date

December 23, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 29

APA
Wu, C.- yuan. (2025). Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces. Gephyra, 29, 63-91. https://doi.org/10.37095/gephyra.1590099
AMA
1.Wu C yuan. Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces. GEPHYRA. 2025;29:63-91. doi:10.37095/gephyra.1590099
Chicago
Wu, Ching-yuan. 2025. “Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces”. Gephyra 29 (May): 63-91. https://doi.org/10.37095/gephyra.1590099.
EndNote
Wu C- yuan (May 1, 2025) Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces. Gephyra 29 63–91.
IEEE
[1]C.- yuan Wu, “Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces”, GEPHYRA, vol. 29, pp. 63–91, May 2025, doi: 10.37095/gephyra.1590099.
ISNAD
Wu, Ching-yuan. “Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces”. Gephyra 29 (May 1, 2025): 63-91. https://doi.org/10.37095/gephyra.1590099.
JAMA
1.Wu C- yuan. Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces. GEPHYRA. 2025;29:63–91.
MLA
Wu, Ching-yuan. “Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces”. Gephyra, vol. 29, May 2025, pp. 63-91, doi:10.37095/gephyra.1590099.
Vancouver
1.Ching-yuan Wu. Aquila’s Roads: Connecting Paphlagonian Spaces. GEPHYRA. 2025 May 1;29:63-91. doi:10.37095/gephyra.1590099