The Hague

Modern reconstructions of the ancient milestones.

The Hague (Den Haag): city in The Netherlands where four Roman milestones were excavated.

In 1997, four Roman milestones were discovered at the Wateringse Veld, an urban development zone in The Hague. The originals are now at the Museon. The milestones indicate the distance to the next Roman city, Forum Hadriani (modern Voorburg) and can be dated to the reigns of the emperors Antoninus Pius (138-161; the column dates to 151), Caracalla (211-217), Gordian III (238-244), and Decius (249-251).

A satellite photo can be found here.

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Milestone of Antoninus Pius

[IMP(eratori) CAES(ari) D] IVI
HADR(iani) FIL(io) DIVI TRA(ani)
PARTHIC(i) NEPOTI
DIVI NERVAE PRO
NEPOTI T(ito) AELI(o)
ANTONINO AVG(ust)O
PONT(ifici) M[AX](imo) TRIB(unicia) [PO]TES(tate)
PII CO(n)SULI IIII
A M(unicipio) A(elio) C(anefatium) MP IIII

To the emperor Caesar, the divine
Hadrian's son, the divine Traian
Parthicus' grandson,
the divine Nerva's great-
grandson, Titus Aelius
Antoninus Augustus,
high priest, with tribunicial powers,
the pious, for the fourth time consul.
To the Aelian town of the Cananafates,
four miles

Replica of the milestone of Decius.

Milestone of Decius.

IMP(eratori) CAES(ari) C M(essio)
QVINTO TRA(iano)
DECIO [PI]O FELI
C(i) AVG(usto) [P]ONT(ifici) M(aximo)
TRIB(unicia) POTES(tate) CO(nsuli)
PROCO(n)[S](uli) CANA[NEF]ATES
AB CIVITATE LEVG(ae) [...]

To the emperor Caesar Gaius Messius
Quintus Traianus
Decius, the pious, fortunat
e, Augustus, high priest
with tribunicial powers, consul,
proconsul. From the Cananefatian
town ... leagues