Borne milliaire romaine
MonumentHidden Treasure
Borne milliaire romaine, located in Lançon-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Lançon-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.5976, 5.2094
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081309
A stone sentinel standing on the Via Aurelia, this Roman milestone in Lançon-Provence is one of the rare stone witnesses to the Romanisation of Provence, and has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1942.
History
Standing on the edge of an ancient Roman road that criss-crossed ancient Provence, the milestone at Lançon-Provence is one of those monumental objects whose apparent discretion conceals its considerable historical significance. A limestone cylinder carved by Roman hands almost two millennia ago, it belongs to a category of artefacts that are both functional and symbolic: signals of imperial power planted in the landscape, distance indicators for the ancient traveller, and precious relics for the modern archaeologist. What sets this milestone apart is its ability to show how Rome organised its territory with remarkable economy of means. Where other Roman monuments impress with their size or decoration, the milestone speaks for itself in its rigour: an inscription engraved in Latin capitals, Roman numerals indicating the miles from a reference city, and sometimes the name of the emperor reigning at the time of its installation. Each engraved line is a living document of the administration and dating of the Gallo-Roman road network. Visiting it is like stopping where legionnaires, olive oil merchants and imperial messengers used to stop. In this corner of Bouches-du-Rhône, between the Berre ponds and the limestone garrigues, the monument invites you to re-read the landscape through the prism of Late Antiquity. You can make out the road that no longer exists, and imagine the dust and the sound of chariot wheels. Little known to the general public, this milestone is nonetheless an essential part of Provence's archaeological heritage. Its protection as a Historic Monument in 1942 bears witness to the clear-sightedness of the heritage authorities at the time, who recognised in this seemingly humble fragment of stone an irreplaceable source of information on the historical geography of the region.
Architecture
The design of the milestone is deliberately sober: a cylindrical or slightly truncated cone-shaped shaft carved from local limestone, generally varying in height from 1.20 to 2.20 metres and with a diameter of 40 to 70 centimetres, depending on the Provencal example. The stone used is typically shell limestone or Urgonian limestone, which is abundant in quarries in the Aix and Alpilles regions, a material that is both resistant and easy to carve. The surface of the shaft houses the lapidary inscription, written in Latin capitals and carefully traced with a point and chisel. The inscription follows a standard form: the first lines give the titles of the reigning emperor (nomen, praenomen, tribunician titles, consulates, imperial acclamations), and the following lines indicate the number of miles from the reference city, generally Aix-en-Provence for the milestones in this area. The whole is sometimes framed by a simple engraved scroll or a moulded band. The base of the pillar was traditionally buried in the ground to a depth of 30 to 50 centimetres, ensuring the monument's stability against the elements and the passage of convoys. This buried part, which was rarely visible, sometimes bore traces of cutting to make it easier to fix. Unlike triumphal arches or temples, milestones were not designed for decorative effect: their language was that of imperial utility, where the clarity of the inscription took precedence over any ornament.
Related Figures
Auguste — premier empereur à avoir systématisé le réseau milliaire en Gaule NarbonnaiseAgrippa — général et gendre d'Auguste, organisateur des grandes voies de GauleCaracalla — l'un des empereurs dont le nom figure le plus fréquemment sur les milliaires provençaux du IIIe siècleSeptime Sévère — dont le règne (193-211) coïncide avec une vaste campagne de réfection des voies romaines en ProvenceConstantin le Grand — sous lequel de nombreux milliaires anciens furent regravés ou remplacés au IVe siècleEsprit Calvet — érudit avignonnais du XVIIIe siècle ayant recensé et étudié les inscriptions lapidaires de Provence
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Borne milliaire romaine located?
Borne milliaire romaine is located in Lançon-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
Is Borne milliaire romaine open to visitors?
Borne milliaire romaine is currently closed to visitors.