The seven cities of Roman Asia were strung along a real road — the postal circuit that ran Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, in exactly the order Revelation names them. Some 475 kilometres, seventeen to nineteen walking days, coast to hill country to the Lycus valley. A letter written for all seven had to be carried to all seven, on foot, by somebody.