In past discussions of the Wall's historical context and architectural development, the practical and logistical aspects of its construction have been given conspicuously short shrift. The central question, that of how the Wall was actually built, is deceptive in its simplicity. Its exploration involves a wide range of issues, some of which remain to be elaborated more fully, and others to be raised seriously for the first time. Among them: Who planned the Wall, supervised its construction, and marshaled the personnel and material necessary for the task? Who saw to its funding, and where did the money come from? Further, how were building materials produced or acquired, how were they transported, and where did they come from? Finally, we must ask who physically set their hands to the task, how these people were organized, and how the execution of the work proceeded. These questions are fundamental not only for an understanding of how Aurelian's Wall came to be, but also for their capacity to provide valuable insights into the social, political, and economic dynamics of life in the capital following the chaotic years of the mid third century, in the ill-documented period just prior to the radical reforms of Roman society that began – or that in some cases, perhaps, were rather reified, codified, and transmitted to posterity – upon the accession of Diocletian in 284.