Roman aqueducts are a remarkable engineering achievement. Water pipelines in ancient Rome - the gold reserve of the empire What is an aqueduct in ancient Rome briefly
In ancient times, water supply to cities in complex terrain was carried out using complex engineering structures. An aqueduct is one of the options for laying a highway from a high-altitude source to consumers located below. What is special about such structures and why were they preferred by ancient builders?
Aqueduct: what is it?
Different countries have tried to invent the best option for transferring water from source to consumers. If there were difficult terrain along the way, and it was not possible to get around them or it was expensive, design engineers usually built the highway on high-rise supports.
What does "aqueduct" mean? If translated from Latin, it is essentially a water conduit. However, many associate with aqueducts only complex and often beautiful multi-tiered structures, similar to stepped bridges. In fact, an aqueduct is an integral system and should be considered comprehensively along its entire length from the source to the final point of consumption.
The high-rise structure undoubtedly plays an important role in passing a difficult section of the route. If it is located in an urban area, close to residential buildings, then the engineers tried to make it pleasing to the eye. But the conduit consisted not only of beautiful arches and supports. Along the entire length (they could range from several hundred meters to tens of kilometers) there could be underground sections.
A water pipeline of this scale was not built for a year or two. It could be used for decades, or even centuries. Therefore, the design and construction itself were carried out carefully. The stones for the base and supports were selected and processed separately. The calculations of the arches and ceilings had to be impeccable. The structure was subject to constant exposure to winds and precipitation. The slightest inaccuracies or shortcomings in the construction process could nullify the grandiose work.
Story
The construction of bridges, overpasses and overpasses was practiced in many ancient states. They tried to place a pipe or an open gutter on such a structure to carry water in both Greece and the East, but water conduits of this type were most widespread in ancient Rome. Some of them have survived to this day. Not only are they architectural monuments, but they are also in working condition.
Another question is why they became so widespread. At that time, pressure pipelines for water supplies already existed in theory and in practice; there were systems built on the siphon principle.
Roman aqueduct - what is it? Ancient designers chose a gravity-fed system for their water supply. Most of These aqueducts were laid on high-rise supports. In some places their height was up to fifty meters.
Characteristic
Ancient aqueducts were usually built from stone blocks. Small water conduits could be built on relatively low wooden supports. Later, with the development of construction technologies, engineers used brick and concrete. The rise of metallurgy made it possible to use steel and cast iron in complex structures.
The construction of Roman-type aqueducts requires the presence of an open or closed water supply ditch. This is a kind of channel or gutter, constructed from materials that are resistant to destructive effects. water flow. For this, stone blocks were most often used. The closed channel was covered on top with a vault or slabs to prevent water pollution.
The pipes used in some aqueducts at that time could be either ceramic or lead. Ceramics were made from fired clay, but this material was unreliable. Drilling holes in stone blocks was difficult. The dangers of lead to human health were already known at that time. However, this fact was tolerated. In addition, in places with hard water, the lead walls of the pipes quickly became covered with a dense layer of plaque.
In ancient times Big city numbered from 500 thousand people. At the height of empires, up to two million citizens could permanently reside in capitals. To provide them with water, a reliable, constantly functioning system was needed. In some cities, a dozen aqueducts could operate simultaneously. The total length of the system became over 400 km. The volume of water supplied per day, according to some estimates, could be up to 1.5 million cubic meters.
An aqueduct is a complex system, and it worked in such a way as to ensure a constant natural flow of water throughout its entire length under the influence of gravitational forces. Calculations were made so that the slope of the channels was optimal. Not all aqueducts were mostly high-rise. Such complex sections could account for only up to 10% of the total length.
In some cases, it was considered advisable to make a depression in the soil. Rocks chopped. Loose soils were laid out with treated blocks, which were covered with vaults. The main task was to ensure consistency of level. There could be additional reservoirs in the system. They could serve to settle water, accumulate reserves, and create volumes for pressure structures.
Ancient water pipelines and modern times
The ancient aqueduct is a complex engineering system. Understanding the construction of such water pipelines, experts note that they were designed by real architects. We must understand that their authors worked real miracles, showing deep knowledge in hydraulics, mechanics, and construction.
Some believe that these aqueducts survived only because a multiple safety margin was built into them. However modern research and studies of existing systems prove that they meet the requirements of modern water supply systems. It is known that engineers of those times were able to calculate the loads and resistance of materials during construction. However, how they were able to calculate the effect of the overturning forces of winds and floods remains a mystery. Formulas for calculating gravity water supply coefficients appeared many centuries later. And the system of mathematical calculations in force at that time using pebbles and counting boards was very labor-intensive and inconvenient.
Legends and facts
Despite the grandeur and complexity of Roman aqueducts, their systems did not have shut-off valves. The water flowed constantly: both day and night. Its consumption was enormous even by today's standards. But the advantage of such extravagance was that the sewer was constantly flushed, and there were fewer problems with blockages.
The aqueduct is a truly grandiose architectural structure. It is not without reason that according to one legend, the authorship of the world-famous arched structure in Segovia is attributed to the devil. It's like he built it grandiose building in exchange for the pawned soul of the girl. But she realized it in time and begged the Almighty for forgiveness. He did not allow the construction to be completed. The devil did not have time to place only one stone. The townspeople together completed the work and, after the consecration, put the water supply system into operation.
Water in ancient Rome was an inseparable part of the lives of city residents. Fountains that served as decoration for the city, baths in which the Romans kept their bodies clean and gave rest to their souls, Naumachia (sea battles), where scenes of ship battles were played out - all this required providing the city with a huge volume of water. The Roman emperors, making significant efforts to meet the needs of their citizens in order to win their support and decorate the Eternal City, did not spare resources on the construction of water supply systems. This is how they appeared aqueducts of Rome.
The aqueducts of Ancient Rome are recognized as the impeccable plumbing system of that era, a miracle of engineering. With its help, water flowed into fountains, baths, and private houses of wealthy citizens. The Romans used water for drinking, making food, keeping clean, and cleaning public latrines all the time.
The principle of operation of the aqueducts of Rome
Essentially, the aqueducts of Rome are a system of irrigation canals stretched across different landscapes. Water from the source flowed into the aqueduct, from it into a special sump “castella”, and was distributed through pipes to the city. If the water supply system was not built underground, it was installed in arched spans and closed from above so that the water remained clean.
The scheme for constructing the aqueducts of Rome is as follows: first, the end point of the water pipeline was outlined, then, moving from end to beginning, they drew a map of the area, recording the relief and selecting the best way. They used wooden piles to mark the line of the future highway and began to prepare the area - they dug trenches, cut down trees, dug tunnels in the mountains, and built bridges. Afterwards, block by block, the water supply was drawn from the source.
Aqueduct in Rome The aqueducts of Rome are more than 350 km of aqueducts. And only a small part of them was located underground. During the construction of the aqueducts of Rome, pozzolanic concrete was used - a mixture of concrete with lime and volcanic ash, a strong, durable material that enabled many aqueducts to survive to this day. In order for water to continuously flow into the city, the correct slope of the couloir was needed. If the builders came across a mountain on the way, it was necessary to dig tunnels - the Roman aqueduct bypassing the mountain would not have the necessary slope.
Famous aqueducts of Rome
Over the course of 538 years, 11 water supply systems were built in Rome, which became a model for other countries:
Aqua Appia Aqueduct
The Aqua Appius Aqueduct of Rome was built in 312 BC with the support of the city rulers Appius Claudius and Gaius Plautius. Appius drew up a plan for the future water supply, and Guy led research papers: in the Sabine Mountains, 15 kilometers from the capital, he discovered a source of clean water, studied its volume, and conducted a survey of the population on the topic of quality. But all the honors went to Appius Claudius.
Akwa Appia was almost entirely underground, its length was 16 kilometers. From the Kapen Gate originated the open part of the structure, 90 m long, which was an arched system. The water flowed all the way to the Bull Market, where it was collected in reservoirs and distributed throughout the city.
Aqueducts of Rome: Anio Vetus The name of this aqueduct of Rome comes from the Anio River; the name “old” aqueduct acquired after the construction of a new aqueduct - Anio Novus in 38. The construction of this water pipeline, which became the second in Rome after Aqua Appius, began in 272 and was completed in 269 BC. Construction began under the censors Mania Curia Dentata and Lucius Papiria Praetexta and was carried out with funds received after the victory over Pyrrhus, completed under Marcus Fulvia Flaccus.
This aqueduct of Rome received water from the Anio River, a tributary of the Tiber. The length of the aqueduct was 64 km; it ran almost entirely underground. The aqueduct was repaired several times. The first time was under Quintus Marcius Rex in the second century BC, the second time was under Marcus Vipsania Agrippa in 33 BC, and the third time was under Emperor Octavian Augustus from 11 to 4 BC. After the construction of Anio Novus, water from the old aqueduct began to be used mainly for watering gardens.
Aqueducts of Rome: Aqua Marcia
Aqueducts of Rome: Aqua Marcia Rome's Aqua Marcia aqueduct, 91 kilometers long, was built in 144 BC and was filled from a number of springs near the Aniene River. The Romans considered water from this aqueduct to be the most suitable for diluting wine. A few centuries later, Emperor Diocletian built another branch of the aqueduct to his baths, and Caracalla to his.
Aqueduct Aqua Tepula
The 18-kilometer-long aqueduct of Rome, Aqua Tepula, was built in 125 BC. The water in it was at least plus 17°, hence the name, since tepula means “warm”. In 33 BC, the general Marcus Agrippa combined the aqueduct with another, Aqua Iulia. The waters of the Marcius, Claudius and Anio Novus aqueducts mixed at the site of Porta Maggiore, from where water from the Tepula aqueduct flowed along the same route as from the Marcius aqueduct.
The construction of the water pipeline began under Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa in 33 BC; a few years later, between the eleventh and fourth years BC, the aqueduct was restored under Emperor Augustus.
Aqueducts of Rome: Aqueduct Julia The length of this aqueduct of Rome is 23 km, it was combined with the Aqua Tepula water supply system, built in 125 BC. The source was located in the Alban Mountains. Water from Aqua Julia also provided the monumental fountain of Alexander Severus.
Aqueducts of Rome: Aqueduct of Agrippa
Agrippa was the creator of the sixth, still functioning aqueduct, Acqua Virgo. An underground 20-kilometer aqueduct was built in the nineteenth year BC. The name Virgo, meaning “virgin”, has a connection with the myth that a young girl showed Agrippa the place where there was a source of crystal clear water. Currently, Rome's Aqua Virgo aqueduct supplies water to the Barcaccia fountains and the Fountain of the Four Rivers.
Aqueduct Aqua Alsietina
Rome's Aqua Alsietina aqueduct, which dates back to 2 BC, was supplied with water from the modern lakes of Bracciano and Martignano. Alsietina’s not absolutely pure water was used to fill Emperor Augustus’ naumachia – artificial reservoirs for staging naval battles. The same aqueduct, stretched through 358 arches, irrigated the gardens of Julius Caesar.
The construction of the Aqua Claudia aqueduct of Rome began during the reign of Caligula and was completed in 52 AD under Claudius. The source was the Aniene River; in parallel, the Marcha aqueduct was built, with which they were combined in the Aqueduct Park. The monumental arch of the aqueduct turned out to be part of the Praenestine Gate. A branch of the Claudius aqueduct called Celimontano supplied water to Nero's Golden House.
Aqueducts of Rome: Aqua Claudia Anio Novus
This 87 km long aqueduct of Rome takes its name from the Aniene River, a tributary of the Tiber. Anio Novus, which replaced Anio Vetus, was built at the same time as the aqueduct of Claudius and has the same sources with it. The construction of the Claudius and Anio Novus aqueducts began under Caligula in 38 and was completed in 52 under Emperor Claudius. Because the water from the river was muddy, it was initially sent to purification pools - piscina limaria. Approximately 14 km of this aqueduct were laid above the ground, 3-story arches reaching up to 32 meters.
Aqua TraianaAqua Traiana was built in 109 by order of Emperor Trojan. The water pipeline was supplied with water from the springs near Lake Bracciano and directed it to the Trastevere region. During the wars, the aqueduct was repeatedly destroyed, but then restored.
After restoration by Pope Paul V, the aqueduct changed its name to Aqua Paola.
The aqueducts of Rome are very ancient. Aqua Alexandrina was built in 226 to supply water to the baths of Emperor Alexander. A new aqueduct was needed to supply the baths of Alexander Severus on the Campus Martius (between the Pantheon and Piazza Navona). The length of the water pipeline was 22.5 kilometers. Part of the aqueduct survives in the Roman area of Pignattara.
Aqueducts of Rome: Aqua Alexandrina Aqueduct in Rome Plumbing and the politics of the Caesars
It is no secret that in order to maintain peace, tranquility and satisfaction of citizens in Ancient Rome there was a universal idea of “Panem et circences” - Bread and circuses. This is how any ruler tried to gain popularity and support from the people. To this we can easily add another significant component in the internal policy of those in power in Ancient Rome - providing the city with drinking water in countless quantities.
Since ancient times, water has been recognized as one of the main components for maintaining human life, and it is not by chance that all big cities in antiquity they were built precisely on the banks of rivers. In addition to the water of the Tiber, the ancient Romans used many springs, the names of which came down to that time from ancient literary documents or were discovered through archaeological excavations. Many of them are well-known, for example, Fons Lupercales - a source near the grotto, where a she-wolf fed the twins Romulus and Remus with her milk, or Fons Juturnae - a source in the Roman Forum, where two brave brothers Castor and Pollux watered their horses after the battle with the Etruscans, and many other sources. But this was not enough, because Rome was a special city and the aqueducts of Rome were its necessity.
Roman baths - hygiene, culture and lifestyle
Acting as a city-ruler, Rome was a symbol of pomp and wealth. In its heyday, approximately a million people lived in the city, and any of them accounted for up to a thousand liters of water per day! For entertainment, ship battles were held in Naumakhia buildings deliberately erected for this purpose. The most famous of them is Naumachia Augusta, built on Trastevere.
The ancient Romans, taking as a basis the culture and achievements of the Etruscan and ancient Greek civilizations, used baths and natural water sources with great pleasure. But this seemingly simple hygienic procedure has taken on a new look. The ancient Roman Baths were transformed into places of entertainment and idle pastime. Thermae housed libraries, gyms, baths, steam rooms and various swimming pools, and massage rooms. In addition, the thermal baths housed trading shops, luxurious pavilions for drinking and eating, and corners for religious worship.
Aqueducts of Rome on an interactive map
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The construction of aqueducts is often recognized as the main achievement of engineering in ancient Rome. It was these structures that performed the most important function of water supply to cities consuming more and more more water. But in a narrow sense, an aqueduct does not mean the entire water supply system, but only part of it, which is a crossing over rivers, ravines, and roads. And these are the parts complex system water supply now and attract thousands of tourists. So today we'll look at Roman aqueducts.
History of Roman aqueducts
Construction of aqueducts began in Rome. The population of this city exceeded a million inhabitants, and there was a need to supply the city not only with water for drinking, but also for technical purposes. Here it is worth remembering the desire of the Romans to create widespread comfort and the abundant distribution of Roman thermal baths. Of course, it was possible to take water from wells, but the increase in consumption forced a direct supply of water from mountain sources.
The aqueduct in Rome appeared already in the 4th century BC, and by the 3rd century BC. there were already 11 of them here. In the 1st century AD, the famous Claudius aqueduct was built, which, with a height of 27 meters, was 30 km shorter than the old Marcius aqueduct (total length approximately 60 kilometers). The reduction in distance was achieved through the multiple use of a system of tunnels and bridges.
Aqueduct of Claudius
Pont du Gard in Nimes (France)
Another famous Roman aqueduct was built in the 2nd century AD in the south of France across the Garde River. Its modern name is Pont du Gard or Gard Bridge. The aqueduct provided water to the city of Nîmes. The bridge is the only surviving remnant of the complex system of the Nimes Aqueduct, which stretches for 50 kilometers. The height of the bridge is 49 meters, length - 275 meters. There are three arched levels. The first level consists of 6 arches. The central arch of this level, connecting the banks of the river, has a span of 24.4 meters. The second level already has 11 arches. The last third level, intended for the water pipe, has 35 smaller arches. Pont du Gard is currently used as a bridge crossing.
Pont du Gard
Roman aqueduct in Segovia (Spain)
The next aqueduct is located at spanish city Segovia. The height of the aqueduct is 30 meters, length is 17 kilometers. One of the surviving spans is now located right in the city center. To ensure central water supply in the old days, water from this aqueduct entered the central tank, from where it was already distributed to other intra-city systems. In the 11th century, this aqueduct was partially destroyed by the Moors, but in the 15th century it was restored and still provides water supply to the regions of Segovia.
Aqueduct in Segovia
Roman aqueducts were built even in Africa. Water supply was provided by Caesaria (23 km aqueduct), Maktar (9 km), and Carthage (80 km).
As Julius Frontinus (Rome's chief water supplier at the beginning of the 2nd century) noted, aqueducts are the main evidence of the greatness of the Roman Empire, and they cannot even be compared with the useless Egyptian pyramids and other idle buildings of Greece. Indeed, these water supply systems gave impetus to the development of civilization and established the construction of baths, swimming pools, and fountains. And considering that some of these buildings from the times of the greatness of ancient Rome function to this day, one can only be amazed and enjoy their greatness and the genius of engineering of deep antiquity.
O. BULANOVA
Ancient civilizations left their descendants many mysteries. Among the stunning ancient structures are numerous aqueducts built during the Roman Empire. But here, it would seem, there are no mysteries - despite all the amazing gigantic sizes it is known who built it, why they built it and when they built it. But is everything so simple with these aqueducts?
First, let’s talk about what an aqueduct is in its original meaning. The word “aqueduct” (aquaeductus) comes from two Latin words: from aqua – “water” and ducere – “to lead, to conduct”. According to dictionaries, an aqueduct is a conduit for supplying water to populated areas and irrigation systems located in areas above the sources.
Later, an aqueduct also began to be called a part of a water conduit in the form of an arched bridge over a ravine, river, or road. Aqueduct openings of sufficient width could allow ships to pass along the river. Often, aqueducts simultaneously acted not only as a “water supply”, but also as bridges. Where it was necessary to carry aqueducts through ravines, rivers, or gorges, arched spans were built that had many tiers, which not only looked beautiful, but also ensured the strength and durability of the entire structure.
An aqueduct is similar in structure to a viaduct, with the difference that it was later used to carry water instead of building a road or (later) a railway track. Aqueducts were built from stone, brick, volcanic rocks, and concrete, which was known in Ancient Rome. This prototype water pipeline consisted of a base on which stone or brick supports are erected (usually stone arches are placed between them for stability), and a bank abutment on which pipes are laid or ditches are arranged.
Most often, aqueducts are associated with the Roman Empire, but it must be said that they were also used in the Middle East, where they built complex irrigation systems. Classic Roman aqueducts began to appear as early as the 7th century BC, when the Assyrians built a limestone aqueduct 10 meters high and 300 meters long to carry water across the valley to their capital, Nineveh, with a total aqueduct length of 80 kilometers.
The Romans built numerous aqueducts to deliver water, mainly to cities. Water was supplied directly to Rome through eleven aqueducts, which were built in a fairly short period of time (from a historical point of view, of course) - within five hundred years. Their total length was almost 350 kilometers. The most curious thing is that only 47 kilometers of them were on land: most were underground. The most typical example of underground water conduits is the Eifel aqueduct in Germany. He supplied Cologne with water, which he brought from mountains 130 kilometers away from the city. It dates back to the 1st century AD. As in all other aqueducts, the water in this underground structure moves under the influence of gravity, without any additional devices.
The longest aqueduct was built in the 2nd century AD to supply water to Carthage (modern Tunisia), its length was 141 kilometers. It was built using the most modern materials for that period, for example, waterproof pozzolanic concrete. This concrete looks almost modern.
Roman aqueducts from the very beginning were incredibly complex structures that were not technologically obsolete even a thousand years after the fall of the Roman Empire.
They were built with remarkable precision: for example, the aqueduct in the city of Nimes, in Provence, called Pont du Gard (translated as “bridge over the Gard”). The aqueduct was built from stone blocks, some of which weighed almost six tons, and laid on top of each other without mortar. In ancient times, the aqueduct was connected to a water intake with a six-meter diameter, from which pipes diverged in five directions.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, this aqueduct was not destroyed because it was indispensable as a bridge. To pass clearance Vehicle Some of the supports were hollowed out, which created a threat of collapse of the entire structure. In 1747, after another 750 years of work, a modern bridge was built nearby, the Pont du Gard was gradually closed to traffic, and ancient monument by order of Napoleon III it was restored.
As for aveducts in Europe, their construction almost completely stopped until the 19th century. Water was obtained by digging wells, although this caused purely sanitary problems and, as a result, threatened the life and health of the townspeople.
In this regard, the Spaniards were very lucky: the aqueduct built by the Romans in the city of Segovia functioned right up to the twentieth century, “transporting” water over a distance of 18 kilometers.
It becomes clear that the ancient builders took everything very seriously: they managed to establish a water supply to remote areas, and thanks to this, not only public baths, swimming pools and fountains appeared in many cities, but also a water supply system that supplied water to residential buildings.
Water is more valuable than gold. The rulers of Ancient Rome understood this very well and invested gold in the construction of water pipelines. Water in Eternal City has retained its magical power to this day. Imagine for a moment the magnificent ones without fountains or the mesmerizing sound of flowing water. Don’t you think that the city will suddenly become lifeless and callous, and the summer heat will forever discourage you from looking at the dry troughs of fountains and the dried lips of nymphs, newts and dolphins?
How did the Romans manage to turn water into the gold reserve of a powerful empire?
Plumbing and the politics of the Caesars
As you know, to maintain peace, tranquility and satisfaction of citizens in Ancient Rome, the universal idea “Panem et circences” was in effect - Meal'n'Real. Thus, each ruler tried to gain popularity and support of the people. To this we can safely add another important element in the internal politics of the powers that be in Ancient Rome - the supply of drinking water to the city in unprecedented quantities.
| Water has long been considered one of the main components for maintaining human life and it is no coincidence that big cities in ancient times they arose precisely on the banks of rivers. In addition to the water of the Tiber, the ancient Romans used many sources, the names of which have come to us from ancient literary documents or were discovered thanks to archaeological excavations. Many of them are familiar to us, for example, Fons Lupercales - a source near the grotto, where the she-wolf fed the twins Romulus and Remus with her milk, or Fons Juturnae - a source in the Roman Forum, where two brave brothers Castor and Pollux watered their horses after the battle with the Etruscans, and many other sources. However, this was not enough because Rome was a special city. |
Roman baths - hygiene, culture and lifestyle
As a city of rulers, Rome was a symbol of luxury and wealth. During its heyday, the city was home to about a million residents, and each of them consumed up to a thousand liters of water per day! For entertainment, ship battles were held in buildings specially built for this purpose. Naumakhiah. The most famous of them is Naumachia Augusta, built on Trastevere.
The ancient Romans, taking as a basis the culture and achievements of the Etruscan and ancient Greek civilizations, used baths and natural sources of water with great pleasure. However, this seemingly elementary hygienic procedure has acquired a new look. The ancient Roman Baths turned into places of entertainment and idle pastime. The thermal baths had libraries, gyms, bathing rooms, steam rooms and various pools, and massage rooms. In addition, the thermal baths housed retail shops, luxurious pavilions for drinking and eating, as well as corners for religious worship.
Ancient aqueducts of Rome
The famous hydraulic system of Roman water supply begins its existence during the wars with Samnites, and we know the exact date - 312 BC. e. The first aqueduct of Ancient Rome, Aqua Appia, was built during the time of the magistrates Apio Claudio Crasso (Appius of Claudius Crassus), nicknamed Cieco ( checko-blind), and Gaio Plauzio Venoce (Gaius Plautius).
Reference. The merit of Gaius Plautius was carrying out survey work: discovering a source of clean water, which was a very troublesome and responsible matter, with surveying the population about the quality of water, with researching water reserves and other things. But despite all this, Appius Claudius managed to destroy his name and single-handedly enjoy his triumph. This is evidenced by a memorial marble plaque in the Forum of Augustus describing the services of Appius Claudius to Rome.
Aqua Appia
The sources of the Aqua Appia aqueduct were located 15 km from Rome in the spacious area of Agro Luculanum in the Praenestine region. Almost the entire length of the aqueduct was laid underground and came to the surface near Settizodio (Palatine), carrying water through arches to the Bull Market. Here the water was collected in tanks and distributed to different parts of the city.
Almost 40 years pass and a second aqueduct is built for the city of Rome - Anio Vetus(L'Aniene Vecchio). IN short term(from 272 to 269 BC) an aqueduct was built with funds from military spoils in the war with Pyrrhus and the inhabitants of Taranto. The construction was led by the magistrates Manius Curius Dentatus and Marco Fulvio Flacco. Water was supplied from the upper reaches of the Aniene River in the area of the current settlements of Vicovaro (Vicovaro) and Mandela (Mandela). For the first time, the Romans create the longest aqueduct in human history - more than 63 km.
At that time the Romans did not have sufficient experience in the construction of long aqueducts. They were faced with the problem of height differences, and it was necessary to maintain the necessary slope so that the water would flow by gravity, so the aqueduct winds. Since the water was supplied directly from the river, filling it with water in different time year was variable, which created many serious problems. So, in the summer, the water level in the river dropped, and in the winter, the water was dirty. Ultimately, the Romans began to use the aqueduct's water exclusively for irrigation.
The failure in the construction of Anio Vetus served as an invaluable experience and the next, third aqueduct - Aqua Marcia, built in 144 BC. e., recognized as one of the best. The construction began and was headed by the praetor of Rome, Quinto Marcio Re. Sources of clean water were found at the source of the Anyene River, between two modern settlements Arsoli (Arsoli) and Agosta (Agosta). The cold and clean water of a whole group of sources was combined into one channel for supply to Rome.
Reference. They say that Emperor Nero, on one hot summer day, decided to swim in the cold water canal of Aqua Marcha and almost died from loss of consciousness and convulsions. In historical documents we read that Aqua Marcha water is recognized as the best for diluting wine. In ancient Rome they drank wine diluted.
The length of the aqueduct was more than 91 km. Most of it (63 km) passed underground and only occasionally appeared on the surface, where it walked along arches. In Rome, the aqueduct ended in the Porta Maggiore area, at the highest point in the city, where the water reached a cistern. The place is called Spem Veterem, named after the ancient pagan Temple that stood here - Tempio della Speranza Vecchia. In more late period two branches of the aqueduct were built Aqua Marcha. The first branch was laid by Emperor Diocletian to supply his Aqua Jovia Baths, and Emperor Caracalla created another to supply water Baths of Caracalla.
The fourth aqueduct of Rome - Aqua Tepula(Aqua Tepula) was built in 125 BC. e. censor Gneo Servilio Cepione (Gnaeus Servilius Cepione). The peculiarity of the aqueduct is that the water temperature never dropped below 17°. Hence the name tepula - warm. Water was taken from the area of present-day Grottaferrata and Marino.
Later, Marc Agrippa combined the water supply with the Aqua Iulia aqueduct, providing water to the area of what is now Via Latina.
Aqueduct Aqua Julia- the first of three aqueducts during the reign of Emperor Augustus. The aqueduct was built by the son-in-law and best friend of Augustus, commander, politician and engineer Marco Vipsanio Agrippa (Marcus Vipsanio Agrippa) in 33 BC. Sources for the aqueduct were found near the village of Squarciarelli, near the town of Grottaferrata. The length of the aqueduct was 23 km and its channel ran using the arches of the Aqua Marcia aqueduct, together with the Aqua Tepula channel. In the section you can see three channels located one above the other.
The sixth aqueduct of ancient Rome Aqua Virgo was built in 19 BC. Marco Vipsanio Agrippa. This was the second aqueduct during the reign of Augustus and was a brilliant confirmation of the brilliant project of Agrippa. The water sources of the Virgo aqueduct were located in the area of the present town of Salone, on the eighth mile of the Collatina road. The length of the aqueduct is almost 20 km, it runs entirely underground, thanks to this it has remained unharmed for centuries and is still in operation today. It is no coincidence that the name of the aqueduct is Virgo (Vergine - Italian), which means Virgin. The legend tells that one local girl showed Agrippa and his soldiers the location of a source of pristine water. One of the beautiful reliefs, which is the final point of the aqueduct, is dedicated to this event.
Aqueduct Aqua Alsietina(or Augusta) was built by Emperor Augustus in 2 BC. and originates from the small lake Martignano, which in antiquity bore the name Lacus Alsietinus. The length of the aqueduct was 33 km and its water was not particularly clean. Therefore, the water from the aqueduct was used mainly to fill a special structure - Naumakhia (see photo). The structure served as the site of an unusually popular performance in ancient Rome - ship battles or naval battles, and it took more than 15 days to fill it with water.
Reference. From ancient sources it is known that Emperor Augustus was especially proud of the beautiful construction of Naumachia on the right bank of the Tiber in the Trastevere region. However, the exact location of this structure still remains a mystery to archaeologists around the world.
Eighth aqueduct of ancient Rome Aqua Claudia and ninth Anio Novus were built in the same historical periods: construction began by Emperor Caligula in 37-38 and completed by Emperor Claudius in 52. Both aqueducts come from the upper reaches of the Aniene River, the water sources were located in the area between the settlements of Arsoli and Agosta. The Aqueduct of Claudius ran parallel to the Aqueduct of March and in the territory of the Park of Aqueducts (Capanelle) comes to the surface, where both canals were located one above the other, using the same arches. The water from the Aqua Claudia aqueduct was considered the best in Rome, along with the water from the Aqua Marcia aqueduct.
Reference. In the area of Tor Fiskale, near the 12th-century tower, you can see the crosshairs of aqueducts in two places. They form a trapezoidal square called Campo barbarico (Field of the Barbarians). It so happened that in the 6th century, during the Gothic-Byzantine clashes, the Goths besieged Rome and settled in this place. They walled up the arches and built a kind of fortress. This kind of arrangement allowed them to control the flow of goods, which ensured a complete blockade of Rome.
In Rome, the aqueducts enter separately and end at the traditional place of Porta Maggiore, from where water entered the tanks. A branch of the Aqua Claudia aqueduct was built, which was called Celimontano and served to provide water for the famous Golden House of Nero (Domus Aurea).
Tenth Aqueduct of Rome Aqua Traiana was built by Emperor Trajan in 109 using funds from war spoils from Dacia. The emperor's engineers identified suitable water sources for the aqueduct in the area of Lacus Sabatinus at the foot of the mountains. The length of the aqueduct is 58 km, it followed the Cassia road and ended at Mount Gianicolo, where the cistern was located. From there they supplied water to the Trastevere area of Rome. Trajan's water supply has long served the residents of Trastevere as the only source of clean drinking water. In the 17th century, Pope Paul V Borghese reconstructed the aqueduct, which received the new name Aqua Paola.
Eleventh and last aqueduct Aqua Alessandrina was built by the last representative of the Severan dynasty - Alexander Severus in 226. Water sources were found three kilometers from the town of Colonna. The length of the aqueduct is 22 kilometers. It represents the “swan song” of the engineering prowess of the ancient Romans. Throughout its entire length, the aqueduct runs along the surface in the form of slender arches. He delivered water exclusively to the Campus Martius to supply the Baths of Alexandrina (the Baths of Nero restored by Alexander Severus).
The Romans never stopped halfway. For them, natural barriers and terrain were just an excuse to create another technical miracle. Money and human sacrifices did not matter. The Empire's investments in bold projects have always paid off handsomely. Gradually Rome turned into a giant treasure trove fresh water, which could be sent anywhere and in any quantity. The waters of the Tiber ceased to be a vital source of moisture, and the empire acquired an independence that cannot be compared with anything else.
Later, bold aqueduct projects would be repeated throughout the entire Roman Empire. Aqueducts will appear in Roman colonies: Pont du Gard in France, Aqueduct in Spanish Segovia, Eifel Aqueduct in Germany, Aqueduct of Gadara in Syria, Aqueduct of Diocletian in Croatia and many others.
Interactive map of Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts of Rome - technical information
Name | Year of construction | Daily volume in quinaria | Length (in steps or km) |
|---|---|---|---|
312 BC e. | 841 - 34.000 mc | ||
272 - 270 BC e. | |||
145 BC e. | 4600 - 187.000 mc | ||
125 BC e. | 16.000 - 18.000 mc | ||
48.000 - 50.000 mc | |||
100.000 - 103.000 mc | |||
184.000 - 196.000 mc | |||
Acqua Alexandrina |
