Who built Roman aqueducts? Water pipelines in ancient Rome - the golden reserve of the empire. The importance of the aqueduct for the development of the Roman Empire.

Definition 1

An aqueduct is a water pipeline that is designed to supply water to populated areas, as well as to hydropower and irrigation systems from those sources that are located above.

In a narrower sense, an aqueduct is a part of a water supply system in the form of a bridge that is located over a river, road or ravine.

If the aqueduct is wide enough, then ships can pass under it as under an ordinary bridge. It is similar in design to a viaduct. However, the main difference is that it is used to carry water instead of creating a road.

Ancient Roman aqueducts: history of origin

Ancient Roman aqueducts were designed to supply water to the population. Irrigation systems and hydroelectric power systems also received recharge from them.

Ancient Roman aqueducts were made of brick, stone, reinforced concrete and steel. At the base of aqueducts, the architects of Ancient Rome used pillars made of stone, brick or cast iron, as well as a coastal abutment on which ditches or pipes were placed. To make the structure as stable as possible, the supports were connected by stone arches.

Despite the fact that the ancient Romans were proud of such engineering structures, aqueducts were first invented in Ancient Egypt. Aqueducts were then built using limestone, and the size of the structures was much more modest. The aqueduct through which water was supplied to the city of Nineveh had a length of 80 km. Its width was 300 meters and its height was 10 meters.

Figure 3. Limestone aqueducts. Author24 - online exchange of student work

Already in the 7th century BC, water conduits first appeared, which were made in the Roman style. About 11 aqueducts with a total length of more than 350 km were intended to supply life-giving moisture to Rome.

Note 1

The longest aqueduct is considered to be located in Carthage (modern Tunisia), its length reaches 141 km.

However, the bulk of the aqueducts were then located underground. An example is the Eifel aqueduct, which is located in Germany. This structure can still be seen in Cologne, where water was delivered through an underground pipeline.

Ancient Roman aqueducts were built from modern and waterproof materials, such as pozzolanic concrete. Despite the exact parameters that were included in their design, the water conduits were too complicated.

For example, the roll of the Pont du Gard aqueduct is 34 centimeters per 1 km, and its descent reaches 17 meters along the slope line. Its length reaches 50 km. Thanks to this design, ancient Roman aqueducts remained modern a thousand years later, when the Roman Empire had already fallen.

The reason for this durability was a simple principle: water was delivered using gravity, which was extremely efficient. Many of the rules and techniques of ancient Roman builders and architects are still used today. Unfortunately, most practical knowledge disappeared forever during the Dark Wars. The construction of aqueducts was revived only in the 19th century.

History has preserved traces of the creativity of ancient Roman architects. Even today, travelers can be amazed at how jewel-like the outlines of some aqueducts can be. These structures are scattered all over the world; today they can be found in many countries:

• Aqueduct Park, which is located in Italy;
• the aqueduct of Caesarea, which is located in Israel;
• the Hampi water conduits (located in India) and the Nazca aqueduct in Peru;
• aqueduct Les Ferreres, which is located in Spain;
• Valens Aqueduct (located in Türkiye);
• Segovia water pipeline, in Spain.

Figure 5. Architecture of an ancient Roman aqueduct. Author24 - online exchange of student work

Roman aqueducts are masterpieces of architecture

Roman aqueducts are true masterpieces of hydraulic engineering; they have no analogues in the ancient world. Since water is a vital resource, the need for it has increased in the Mediterranean, especially during hot summers. The growth of cities led to an increased demand for water, already from the 5th century BC some big cities were supplied with water through water pipelines. The first Roman aqueduct was built in 312 BC.

According to calculations, ancient Rome had high water supply per person. Aqueducts were then built not only to provide water supply to the population, but also for other purposes. Part of the water was used to irrigate country gardens and for industrial purposes. However, most of the water was still used for the needs of society: baths, circuses, city fountains.

Each element of the aqueduct, considered individually, is impressive. However, if we take into account the full scale of the organization, as well as the practical implementation of architects and the ability of Roman engineers to solve complex water supply problems, then we can agree with the opinion of the ancient authors Frontinus or Pliny the Elder that ancient Roman aqueducts are one of greatest miracles ancient world.

How were the aqueducts of Ancient Rome constructed?

Almost all ancient Roman aqueducts were simple gravity-flow structures. The source was located slightly above the city it served, and the water supply had a constant downward slope so that the water would flow downwards under the influence of gravity.

For the city, water was supplied through a rectangular gutter, which was lined on the inside with a waterproof putty made of crushed terracotta and lime. The gutter was closed at the top so that the water remained clean, but it was not completely clogged, like modern water pipes. The angle of inclination was small so that water did not wash out the bottom of the gutter. But at the same time it had to ensure the movement of water flow.

If possible, the aqueduct trough was placed in the ground, but in some places it was raised onto a secure stone foundation to create an even angle of inclination when crossing depressions and small depressions. Short vertical sections were introduced periodically to compensate for the steep slopes.

When approaching the city, the aqueduct went along arches, since many cities Ancient world were built on hills, and the water canal had to be raised to such a height that the water could easily enter the city. As a result, such impressive works of ancient Roman architecture as aqueducts appeared.

Aqueduct architecture: the world's most famous structures

Aqueducts are an important achievement of the engineers of Ancient Rome. Thanks to the construction of these structures, the Romans were able to establish an impeccable water supply system major cities who needed a lot of water.

In terms of the greatness of architectural thought, the most famous and impressive were the aqueducts of Ancient Rome. On excursions, tourists can still see some water pipes that are perfectly preserved in many European cities.

In the 6th century BC, residents of the million-strong city of Rome felt the need to build an aqueduct to supply water to the city. drinking water and water for technical purposes. Water was supplied to the townspeople in sufficient quantities, since it was necessary for the organization of Roman saunas and thermal baths.

The first bridge, 16 km long, was Aquia Aliya. After this, the Romans built the aqueducts of Claudius and Marcius, which supplied the city with water without interruption.

Garda Aqueduct. Until our time, the Gardsky aqueduct, which had a height of 275 meters, has been best preserved. It is located in the French province near the city of Nimes. The architects left an inscription on the wall of the conduit, which clearly indicates the time of construction and the original height of the bridge. Aqueduct The Gardian aqueduct was higher than even the Colosseum. The bridge with numerous arches was built using stone blocks, some of which weighed up to 6 tons. Despite the lack of decorative elements, the aqueduct is very simple and convenient to use. The bridge architects could accurately calculate all the load-bearing parts and position the arches strictly symmetrically. The three-tier aqueduct has several arched rows that are located one above the other. It was this ancient Roman aqueduct that was most often used as a highway. But due to wear and tear, it was closed to traffic on the bridge. Vehicle. The highlight of this aqueduct is its construction method: a huge number of stone blocks are held together only by the jewelery fitting of the stone. Cement and other fastening materials were used during the construction process. All stone blocks fit together flawlessly. On the second tier there is a block on which the name “Veranius” is carved - perhaps this is the name of the architect who developed the project for the Gardian aqueduct.

Carthaginian aqueduct. An equally famous aqueduct of Ancient Rome is the Carthaginian aqueduct. Today, only ruins remain from it. When it was needed to supply water from the reservoirs of the Tunisian Atlas. Its length was 132 kilometers. Streams of water flowed naturally along the sloping terrain. The conduit itself was constructed by the inhabitants of Carthage, and the Romans had already completed the construction. The aqueduct was reconstructed and restored several times.

Figure 9. Carthaginian aqueduct. Author24 - online exchange of student work

Aqueduct in Segovia. An ancient Roman medieval bridge with a height of 30 meters is located in the Segovia province of Spain. Its duration is 17 kilometers. Today, only one of its spans has survived, which can be seen in the city center. The flow of water that passed through the aqueduct was directed into huge tanks, and after that the water flowed through intra-city canals. In the 11th century, the conduit was destroyed by the Moors, but it was soon restored.

Aqueduct of Valens. The Romans even built the aqueducts of Ancient Rome in the northern lands of Africa. In the vicinity of Istanbul you can now see the ruins of what was once the famous and powerful Valens Aqueduct. It has been reconstructed many times. The aqueduct had a distinctly Roman style; it was decorated with arches. From one of the many arches begins the famous a tourist route– Ataturk Boulevard.

Underground reservoir hall with 336 columns - Basilica Cistern. This building is located near the Temple of Sophia. The water storage facility took almost a quarter of a century to build. The Basilica Cistern has been in use for thousands of years. Now it's a museum man-made miracles, which attracts tourists from all over the world.

Aqueduct of the Temple of Artemis. This is an aqueduct that is located in Ephesus. At that time, not only baths, schools and theaters were built in the city, but also aqueducts to ensure water supply. The water pipe was made of ceramic material. It took place both underground and on the surface of the earth. The water main consisted of pipe sections that were attached to each other with a raster connector.

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 supply was outlined, then, moving from end to beginning, they drew a map of the area, recording the relief and selecting the best route. 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.

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 aqueduct, and Guy led research papers: a source was discovered in the Sabine Mountains 15 kilometers from the capital clean water, studied its volume, 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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

Water has long been recognized as one of the main components for maintaining human life, and it is not by chance that all large cities in antiquity 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

Our tips for Rome:

Picnic area with real museum exhibits underneath open air is located near the center of Rome, in its southeastern part. The Aqueduct Park (Parco degli Acquedotti) was included in the regional park Appia Antica Parco, although the reconstruction plan was conceived back in 1965. In the 70s, the area was cleared of barracks, but for several years it remained simply abandoned and very tempting for new illegal buildings. In 1986, citizens who were not indifferent to the historical heritage of Rome created a Committee that dealt with the issues of the park. Thanks to his activities, it was possible to preserve the antiquity of the buildings located on the territory in an untouched, “pure” form.

There are quite a few tourists in Aqueduct Park, so you can touch and get closer to Eternity here quite simply. Perhaps there is some kind of charm in this, when contact with Greatness occurs one on one. People relax here on weekends local residents, and on weekday mornings and evenings the area becomes somewhat lively with healthy lifestyle enthusiasts running, biking, playing tennis and golf. The park is not neglected by dog ​​breeders and even gardeners (there are vegetable beds and clearings planted with potatoes on the territory).

In the park area there are ruins of aqueducts. Here you can also see preserved ancient water pipelines, which are still operational. Nearby there are fountains with high-quality drinking water, and pine trees lined up in a row resemble the outlines of aqueduct arches.

The Aqueduct Park has no analogues in Italy. Located in a picturesque valley, seven of the eleven Roman aqueducts are located on its territory:

• Anio Vetus (Aqua Anio Vetus) - an aqueduct built underground, received the name “old” (vetus) after the construction of the Anio Novus (new) water pipeline;
• Marcia (Aqua Marcia) is the longest supplier of clean water to the city. Despite its venerable age and numerous reconstructions, it still functions to this day;
• Tepula (Aqua Tepula) – interesting fact is that initially the water entering Rome through its system was warm and intended for technical purposes, as evidenced by the name of the conduit. Subsequently, Aqua Tepula was connected to other water pipelines;
• Julia (Aqua Iulia) - the aqueduct, at one time, provided Caelius and Aventine;
• Felice (Aqua Felice) is a kind of “remake” and is the youngest aqueduct still in operation. From certain angles you can see three aqueducts fed by mountain water at once - Aqua Marcia - the oldest and destroyed, Aqua Felice - relatively young, and Aqua Claudio - majestic monument eras;
• Claudia (Aqua Claudia) - the ruins of the building allow you to see the structure of the above-ground part of the Roman aqueduct from afar. The building was restored and reconstructed more than once, but, unfortunately, it has not been completely preserved to this day;
• Anio Novus (Aqua Anio Novus) - the aqueduct, through the construction of purification pools, helped to some extent solve the problem of muddy water entering the city.

Having visited the Aqueduct Park, you can see the famous and most significant Appian Way for Ancient Rome, located here, the history of which goes back far into the past (IV century BC). Speaking about a more modern period, it should be noted that the territory of the park has more than once become a place for filming films. Famous paintings showing the beauty of the Aqueduct Park are such as (1959), (1962), “Marquis del Grillo” (1981), “The Great Beauty” (2013), as well as the television series “Rome”, familiar to lovers of the history of Rome.

To be able to examine the archaeological finds and attractions located in the park, we would recommend purchasing a guide in advance that will help you navigate and understand which aqueducts are located nearby and why they are significant. Such brochures are easy to purchase, for example, on.

The magnificent Aqueduct Park will not leave anyone indifferent! Take a break from the bustle of the city and enjoy the Eternal City!

Aqueduct Park on the map:

How to get to Aqueduct Park:

Metro Line A. Stations – Cinecittà, Subaugusta, Giulio Agricola, Lucio Sestio

Irrigation canals, aqueducts, dams, bridges - since ancient times, man has created all kinds of structures - in the water, above the water, near the water and even under the water. Aqueducts deserve special attention. These are the canals, pipes and conduits necessary to provide the city with water, even if the settlement is located higher than the city itself.

Aqueducts could be laid both underground and on its surface. In the latter case, the aqueducts were blocked from above so that the water did not bring dirt and garbage into the city. Where aqueducts passed through pits and arches, arched spans were built - real miracles of architecture. These arches had many tiers, which not only looked beautiful, but also ensured the stability of the entire structure.

The construction of aqueducts began back in . The first information that has reached our times is about an aqueduct built in 603 BC. The structure supplied water to the capital of Assyria, Nineveh. In the Ancients they also built aqueducts. But the longest was built in Ancient, its length is more than 315 kilometers.

Ancient Roman aqueducts, however, cannot be compared: they are distinguished not only by the grandeur of their construction, but also by their scale. Some ancient buildings have survived to this day.

The need for clean drinking water forced the ancient Romans to build aqueducts back in the 4th century BC. The first aqueduct built - Aquia Apia - reached a length of 16 kilometers. In ancient times, almost a third of the entire empire was supplied with clean water. Aqueducts were stretched throughout almost the entire country and conquered lands.

During the reign of Augustus, the Roman Empire already had about 16 aqueducts, draining water into cities from high hills. By the beginning of the 20th century, 3 active (!) aqueducts remained - Acquia Marena, Acquia Virgo, Acquia Troyana.

The Garsky Aqueduct, which is located near the city of Nîmes, has been preserved better than others. Its length is 275 meters, height - 48 meters (it is taller than the famous one). This aqueduct was built in 19 BC, as evidenced by the inscription left on one of the walls of the structure. For that time, the construction of an aqueduct was a very difficult project, but the ancient builders successfully completed this task.

The aqueduct was built under the leadership of the friend and son-in-law of Emperor Augustus. It is built from stone blocks, some of which weigh almost 6 tons. Sometimes the stones stick out one at a time - this is done on purpose: the workers used the protrusions as a ladder. Of course, all construction work was done by slaves. The aqueduct was intended to carry water from the Fountain del Ur source, which is not far from the city of Yuza. The almost 50-kilometre structure stretches across very difficult terrain (through high hills and).

The aqueduct is devoid of any decorative details, since its main task is to bring benefits. Nevertheless, the construction is worthy of admiration. Everything is done in strict accordance with calculations. The details of the aqueduct are located according to the general laws of symmetry, without any deviations. The arches stand out well against the sky, and through the openings of the aqueduct one can see the continuation of the Gardon River.

The aqueduct consists of 3 tiers located one above the other. The lower tier consists of 6 arches, each up to 20 meters high. There are 11 arches on the Middle Tier, and 24 more were built above them. The edges of the aqueduct narrow. In ancient times, in Nimi, the aqueduct flowed into a water source 6 meters in diameter, from which pipes diverged in 5 directions.

The ancient inhabitants, who had no idea about the true purpose of the aqueduct, called it the devil's bridge: it was believed that anyone who passes over it would give his soul to Satan himself.

Not far from Carthage there are the ruins of a large aqueduct (Carthaginian Aqueduct), which supplied water to the cities from a ridge in the mountains. The aqueduct has a total length of 132 km. Water was supplied by gravity, passing through several large valleys, where the aqueduct was more than 20 m high. It was founded by the Carthaginians and rebuilt in 136 AD. e. by the Romans (under Emperor Hadrian, 117 - 138). Under Emperor Septimius Severus (193 - 211), the building was rebuilt again. The aqueduct was destroyed and rebuilt again by barbarians. Its ruins still amaze with their grandiose size. It was the longest aqueduct in ancient times, the second longest is located near Rome.

The Romans considered the construction of aqueducts a great achievement in development. Indeed, these buildings are perfect, otherwise not a single one would have reached us. It's just a miracle that modern man there is an opportunity to admire the creations of the ancients and appreciate the uniqueness of each of them.

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.

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 a short time (from 272 to 269 BC) an aqueduct was built using 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 building 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 water was supplied directly from the river, its filling with water was variable at different times of the year, which created many serious problems. So, in summer time year, the water level in the river fell, 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 a later 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, which is at 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 storehouse of 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