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The cursus publicus was streamlined during Diocletian's reign (see Lemcke 2016); it was born from the transformation of the vehiculatio that was created by Augustus. The ancient system in the 4th century did not provide the new requirements of transportation and the increased needs of communication between the Emperor and the provincials. The author examines the new system, the usage rights, the users, and the infrastructures in the perspective of their effective and integral tool for the Roman administration. It is clear the system was not a postal service, as it has been often presented. The development of the cursus publicus is studied from the late Tetrarchy to the 6th century, through three principal steps.
The supplement to paper aims to study the milestone of Pistunina-Messina (inv. ME 22391), the only extant copy of imperial period in Sicily. It is a very important archaeological evidence of the dynastic politic propaganda of Constantine. The inscription partly mutilated is a dedication to the Emperor and likely to two Caesares, Crispus and Constantine the Second, between 321 and 324 AD. The milestone was connected also with the road networks, the stations of cursus publicus, the econ omic system and the Sicilian provincial administration. [Author]
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