Wright State University CORE Scholar

Classics Ancient Science Fair Religion, Philosophy, and Classics

2020

Roman Aqueducts

Rachel Caughey Wright State University - Main Campus, [email protected]

Krista Long Wright State University - Main Campus, [email protected]

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Repository Citation Caughey , R., & Long , K. (2020). Roman Aqueducts. Dayton, Ohio.

This Presentation is brought to you for free and open access by the Religion, Philosophy, and Classics at CORE Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Classics Ancient Science Fair by an authorized administrator of CORE Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Roman Aqueducts Rachel Caughey and Krista Long CLS 3500 Spring 2020

Introduction Materials and Design Mechanics and Water Distribution Conclusions

Access to safe, clean drinking water is There are three distinct types of • Water was distributed by way of two forms The Romans were considered the greatest essential for any city’s survival. This was aqueducts that the ancient Romans of conduits: open and closed builders of aqueducts in the ancient world, built: cut-stone, concrete faced with • Open conduit were the most common used even though they weren’t the first. Overtime, especially difficult but still necessary for they continued to improve these aqueducts, stone, and concrete and brick by the Romans and consisted of channels cities in antiquity. Rome was able to totaling 3 different types, first cut-stone, construct conduits that provided enough • The earliest versions are made from cut- built into stone and waterproofed by plaster or cement second concrete, and third brick. They built water to supply its citizens and clean the stone these all through their empire to not just sewer systems. This was an engineering –One of the earliest was the Aqua Marcia, which • Open conduits needed a consistent slope deliver safe drinking water, but to also flush to keep the water level even, normally a feat that was unsurpassed by other was constructed in 144 BC the sewer systems with the excess water. gradient between 1 in 150 and 1 in 500 states in the ancient world. • This later evolved into concrete faced with Overtime they were able to start building stone • Closed conduits normally consisted of aqueducts over plains by using high arches. –Stacking of aqueducts began with these versions a rounded waterproof pipe –The Aqua Tepula and the Aqua Julia were • Water flow was from only gravity sending it stacked onto the Aqua Marcia through distribution tanks • The final version was constructed from • Water wasn’t stored concrete and brick • Channels bored through rock from intaker –The concrete of this period was unusual as the to distribution tank mortar proportions were smaller than past aqueducts • Vertical shafts bored at interval for ventilation and access • The final stretch was raised on arches to give sufficient head for distribution within the city

• . • The aqueducts took roundabout routes to . . _i. :-.. ..,, . ~;•,.· ensure gradient constant Photo Credit: TripAdvisor ,:··: ~; ··;; ' :' ~a.1-': ':.ii Photo Credit: Getty Images • Followed land contours and headed along spurs leading to final city References History • High arches were used to support the • Butler, Howard Crosby. “The Roman Aqueducts • Our main source of the aqueducts was conduits across valleys and plains as Monuments of Architecture.” American Sextus Julius Frontinus, who held the Journal of Archaeology, vol. 5, no. 2, 1901, pp. position of Water Commissioner at the end 175–199. JSTOR of the first century A.D. • Matera, James J. “Ancient Rome's Water • Within a period of five centuries, the Supply.” The Military Engineer, vol. 69, no. 450, Romans had constructed eleven aqueducts 1977, pp. 252–255. JSTOR to provide Rome with water (Matera, 1977, • Roman Aqueduct and Hydraulic Engineering, pg. 252) Water Supply 2000 vol. 7 Is.1 • Photo of Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard from • Aqueducts replaced earlier forms of water ' distribution that used conduits entirely https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia /roman-aqueducts/ under the ground ---,~11"•----~l~J.-- II • Photo of Roman Drinking Fountain from Conde • The first aqueducts did not use mortar, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Nast Traveler (Getty Image) although later forms did https://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2015-09- Figu re 3 Figure of the Ro man Aq ueduct water supply system: (1) Source (in this case : infiltration gallery); • The Aqua Marcia was the longest of the (2) Steep chutes (in th is case: dropshafts); (3) Settling tan k; (4) Tunnel and shafts (putei); (5) Covered 02/strange-to-stunning-these-are-italys-most- Roman aqueducts, stretching nearly 60 trench; (6) Aqueduct bridge ; (7) (inverted) Siphon; (8) Substruction ; (9) Arcade and cu lverts ; (10) beautiful-fountains miles Distribution basin/castellum divisorium ; (11 ) Water distribution (in th is case with (lead) pipes into the town) • Photo of Aqua Claudia from (Schram, 2004) https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review- • The successors to some of the original g187791-d8389157-Reviews-Aqua_Claudia- aqueducts are still in use today Photo credit: National Geographic Photo credit: Schram, 2004 Rome_Lazio.html

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