The Appian Way is the oldest and the most famous road built by the ancient Romans. Built in 312 BC by Appius Claudius Caecus, the Appian Way was the main route by which traders and merchants could get to and from Greece. It was about 350 miles in length and built chiefly of stone and mortar filled in with gravel. On top of this, slabs were laid to make the road smooth. The Road had a retaining wall and a ditch on either side of it. The road was well built and traversed the hills and plains between Rome and its southern cities. The surface that covers the road now was probably not the original surface. It is generally not known when this course was added. Near Rome, the road is lined with tombs which can still be seen today in ruins. You don't see failures like this one on the Via Appia. A