Course of The Royal Road
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The course of the road has been reconstructed from the writings of Herodotus, archeological research, and other historical records. It began in Asia Minor (on the Aegean coast of Lydia, about 60 miles east of İzmir in present-day Turkey), traveled east through what is now the middle northern section of Turkey, (crossing the Halys according to Herodotus) and passed through the Cilician Gates to the old Assyrian capital Nineveh (present-day Mosul, Iraq), then turned south to Babylon (near present-day Baghdad, Iraq). From near Babylon, it is believed to have split into two routes, one traveling northeast then east through Ecbatana and on along the Silk Road, the other continuing east through the future Persian capital Susa (in present-day Iran) and then southeast to Persepolis. Of course, such long routes for travellers and tradesmen would often take months on end, and so during the reign of Darius the Great numerous royal outposts (Caravanserai) were built.
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Famous quotes containing the words royal and/or road:
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The royal banner and all quality,
Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
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How drifts are piled,
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Till even the comforting barn grows far away,
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Whether ‘tis in us to arise with day
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—Robert Frost (1874–1963)