There are two roadsOn these roads see Ashby and Gardner, The Via Trajana, Paper of the British School at Rome, 1916, Vol.VIII, No. 5, pp. 107 ff. from here: one, a mule-road through the countries of the Peucetii (who are called Poedicli),Cp. 6. 3. 1. the Daunii, and the Samnitae as far as Beneventum; on this road is the city of Egnatia,Also spelled Gnathia, Gnatia, and Ignatia; now Torre d'Agnazzo. and then, Celia,Also spelled Caelia; now Ceglie di Bari. Netium,Now Noja. Canusium, and Herdonia.Now Ordona. But the road by way of Taras, lying slightly to the left of the other, though as much as one day's journey out of the way when one has made the circuit,i.e., to the point where it meets the other road, near Beneventum. what is called the Appian Way, is better for carriages. On this road are the cities of Uria and Venusia, the former between Taras and Brentesium and the latter on the confines of the Samnitae and the Leucani. Both the roads from Brentesium meet near Beneventum
Polybius, Histories, book 3, Hannibal Marches Through Iapygia (search)
i], and Messapii. Hannibal first invaded the territory of the
Daunii, beginning from Luceria, a Roman colony, and laid the
country waste. He next encamped near Vibo, and overran the
territory of Arpi, and plundered all Daunia without resistance.
Meanwhile Fabius, after offering the usual sacrifice to theFabius takes the command.
gods upon his appointment, started with his
master of the horse, and four legions which
had been enrolled for the purpose; and
having effected a junction near Daunia with the troops that
had come to the rescue from Ariminum, he relieved Gnaeus
of his command on shore and sent him with an escort to
Rome, with orders to be ready with help for any emergency,
in case the Carthaginians made any movement by sea. Fabius
himself, with his master of the horse, took over the command of
the whole army and pitched his camp opposite the Carthaginians, near a place called Aecae,On the Appian Way between Equus Tuticus and Herdonia, mod. Troja. about six miles from the enemy.