Ancient Mile Marker in Istanbul
Milion - zero mile marker of the Roman Empire
In Istanbul (Constantinople), near the basilica cisterns, at one end of the hippodrome, stands a fragment of the zero mile marker from which all distances in the Roman Empire were calculated. It was erected at the time of Septimus Serverus 3rd century AD. It was a 4 arched domed building originally. During excavation of the basilica area, this fragment was found.
In New Testament times, the Roman equivalent was the Milliarium Aureum - the zero milestone in the forum of Rome. It was erected by Emperor Augustus around 20 BC.
