Dhis time I would like to introduce you to an exciting, entertaining and at the same time historically educational project by researchers from Stanford University, namely an interactive navigation system for the Roman Empire, which stretched over three continents. You can find the sophisticated tool on the Internet at https://orbis.stanford.edu/.
Unlike today’s navigation systems, which usually only store roads, the Stanford navigation system also uses information on rivers, lakes and the routes across the open sea that were common at the time. And this is how it works: Enter the start and destination at the top left, for example “from Athens to Rome”. You can also choose when to travel (one month or one of the four seasons), because the optimal route can change depending on the weather.
Next, click whether you need the fastest, shortest or cheapest connection. In the “Mode” section, it is also stated whether you would be traveling on foot (daily distance 30 kilometers), in a carriage (twelve kilometers an hour on average) or on a horse (but the 56 km/h here seems very sporty to me , even at a gallop). Last but not least, you can decide with a click whether you want to travel by land or water. One click on “Calculate Route” – and you get the best route for the parameters you have chosen. If you want to know how it all works and what the genesis of this project actually is, you can find information under the “About” button.
Now our question: Which Roman emperor was probably responsible for the motto “Pecunia non olet” (money doesn’t stink) that is still valid today by introducing creative taxation? Please send your solution proposal to [email protected].
The closing date for entries is July 13, 2022, 9 p.m. The solution to last week’s riddle was “English Suite No. 2, A minor, BWV 807”. The winner will be notified in writing.