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This ancient Roman column marks the starting point of one of history’s most famous roads — the Via Appia, built more than 2,000 years ago. 🏛️ From here, Roman surveyors measured every distance in mille passus — meaning “a thousand paces.” A single pace was one double step by a Roman soldier, and after 1,000 of them, they had marched one Roman mile — about 5,000 feet. When England later adopted the system, it was adjusted to 5,280 feet, but the name mile stayed — a direct descendant of Roman marching precision. So the next time you drive a mile, remember — you’re retracing the footsteps of ancient legionaries who measured the world, one step at a time. 👣 📍 Rome, Italy – The First Milestone of the Via Appia