Roman “pedestrian crossings”

The photo shows Roman pedestrian crossings in Pompeii – stone blocks arranged across the street. These are the prototypes of today’s “zebra crossing”.

The purpose here, however, was completely different from the modern ones crossing the street. Streets served not only as a communication route but also as a system for draining excess water and sewage. The blocks made it possible to cross the street without entering the dirt.

What’s more, the breaks made it possible for carts pulled by horses to pass. To this day, you can see the traces of cart wheels, carved into the stone of the road.