Roman aqueducts are a remarkable engineering achievement. Roman aqueducts - the watery beginning of civilization Aqueduct: what is it

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 wonders 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 simply a miracle that modern people have the opportunity to admire the creations of the ancients and appreciate the uniqueness of each of them.

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Book "Roman Concrete". Chapter Ⅲ Benefit, strength and beauty.

Water supply in Ancient Rome.

Construction of aqueducts in Ancient Rome.

Aqueducts are the main evidence of the greatness of the Roman Empire.

These words belong to Sextus Julius Frontinus (late 1st - early 2nd centuries AD), a major statesman Ancient Rome, who was twice consul, fought successfully in Britain and in his old age received the title of “water warden.” Having taken such a high position, Frontin, who thoroughly studied all the technical and economic issues related to the construction and operation of water pipelines, wrote the book “Water Pipelines of the City of Rome”! which was of great importance not only during the era of the Roman Empire, but also in subsequent centuries. Many of the building elements in Roman aqueducts were made of concrete.

The Greeks and Romans had water, as did many more ancient peoples. It was considered something divine, one of the main elements of the universe. This belief probably came from the Middle East, where fresh water has always been of great value. There, in the Middle East, long before the emergence of the ancient Roman state, dams, dams and stone conduits were built to collect water. In the 7th century BC e. A large water pipeline 40 km long was built near ancient Nineveh. To transfer it across the river valley, the Assyrians built a stone bridge (aqueduct) with five vaulted arches, each with a span of 2.74 m. For 900 m, it was an open channel laid in an artificial stone bed, about 2.3 m wide. Perhaps it was one of the first aqueducts built by humans.

In Ancient Rome, water pipelines began to be built at the end of the 6th century. BC e. The first large aqueduct in Rome was built by Appius Claudius, the famous builder of the Appian Way. This event occurred in 312 BC. e., in the same year with the opening of the first strategic road. The relatively short pipeline, 16.5 km long, was mostly underground, starting outside the city from a spring in the quarries and ending at the Tiber, next to the harbor, where brisk contractors brought marble and granite blocks from Egypt. That's what they called him - Appian.

Most water pipelines, as well as temples, theaters, roads and other important and unique structures, received their name after their builders, or rather the people who financed the construction and were responsible for it. They were usually high-ranking state censors, praetors, aediles, and often consuls and the emperors themselves.

In 272 BC. e. a second water supply system was laid in Rome, which was completed two years later. It supplied the capital with water from the Anio River, located 70 km from the city.

Rome's water supply was hampered by the rugged terrain, as the city is located on seven hills surrounded by the flat territory of Campania. Water supply was carried out using water pipelines, which within the city were located on aqueducts - special structures in the form of bridges (Fig. 24). The conduit ran over the top of the aqueduct and was a channel in the form of a trench made of stone, brick or concrete. When the water supply system approached the city, water towers were built, which in their operating principle were reminiscent of modern water pressure structures, although they differed from them in the distribution systems for water.

The third aqueduct in Rome - Aqua Marzia - was built in 44 BC. e. This hydraulic structure, unique for that time, served as a standard for later Roman construction. In the books of ancient Roman authors, the aqueduct of Marcius is mentioned as a significant milestone in the great days of the Republic. Especially on the water supply route, the grandiose aqueduct stood out, rising almost 60 m above the level of the Tiber. The total length of the water pipeline reached 91.3 km, of which the above-ground part was 11.82 km, and the daily flow rate of supplied water was 200 thousand m 3. It was built from beautiful natural stone by the hands of slaves - captured Greeks and Carthaginians.

Rice. 24. Aqueducts near Rome, crossing Via Latina, reconstructions

Its culvert bed had a width of 1.37-1.68 m and a height of 2.44-2.75 m. Unfortunately, this water supply system with its wonderful aqueduct arcade has reached us in pitiful ruins, especially since the aqueduct itself has been destroyed several times. was rebuilt. So, 17 years after the completion of construction, the Tepula aqueduct was laid along it, and another 100 years later - the Julia aqueduct, where brick and concrete were already used as building materials.

During the time of Emperor Augustus, when large construction work began in the country, the emperor’s friend and son-in-law, commander Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, became their leader. He is credited with the construction of many structures, including temples, baths and aqueducts.

Picnic area with real museum exhibits under 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, those who were not indifferent to historical heritage Rome citizens created a Committee to deal with park issues. 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 in the morning and evening weekdays The area is somewhat enlivened by healthy lifestyle enthusiasts who run, ride bicycles, play 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 powered ones at once mountain water aqueduct - Aqua Marcia - ancient 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 inspect archaeological finds and the attractions available 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

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 the destructive effects of 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 were cut down. 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. As if it was he who built a grandiose structure 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.

Aqueducts were an important achievement of ancient Roman engineers: thanks to the construction of these structures, the Romans managed to establish an ideal water supply system for cities that required large amounts of water.

An aqueduct is an irrigation canal running across roads and rivers: through such canals water was delivered to cities. If the aqueduct was laid on the surface of the earth, then the top was blocked in order to keep the water clean. Often along the path of such ancient pipelines there were ravines or holes: then architects worked to create durable and almost airy structures. Arched spans decorated and complemented the landscape. The arches were in several tiers: this helped make the structure especially stable.

The oldest water pipelines in the world are known - these are Egyptian and Middle Eastern structures that supplied water to the ancient states of Egypt and Nineveh.

Roman aqueducts: history

The most outstanding in terms of the grandeur of architectural thought and the complexity of their structures were the aqueducts of Ancient Rome. To this day, tourists can see on excursions some well-preserved water pipelines in European cities.

In the 6th century BC, the inhabitants of the million-strong city of Rome had an urgent need to build an aqueduct to supply drinking and industrial water to the city. The townspeople did not receive sufficient water; in addition, water was required to provide thermal baths and Roman saunas.

Aquia Apia became the first bridge with a length of 16 km. Next, the Romans built the aqueducts of Marcius and Claudius: they regularly supplied the city with water.

Famous ancient aqueducts

1. The 275-meter Garda Aqueduct, located in one of the French provinces close to large city Nima. The architects left an inscription on the wall of the structure, from which scientists were able to establish the approximate time of construction and the original height of the bridge - the aqueduct was higher than the famous Colosseum.

Masons, led by the son-in-law of Emperor Augustus, worked on the construction of the structure. The bridge with numerous arches was built from stone blocks: the weight of some of them reached 6 tons. This aqueduct supplied water from the Fountain del Ur river: despite the lack of decorative elements, the bridge is very functional and simple in design.

A long and durable aqueduct pulled water over a very complex terrain: the bridge architects were able to accurately calculate the load-bearing parts and arrange the arches according to the law of strict symmetry. The three-tier aqueduct consists of several rows of arches placed one above the other.

Among the surviving aqueducts of Ancient Rome, this one was intensively used for a long time as a highway, but due to the deterioration of the structure, the bridge was closed to traffic. Nowadays, car traffic is prohibited along the aqueduct - only pedestrians are allowed through.

A special highlight of the aqueduct is its unique construction method: large number stone blocks are held together only by the jeweler's adjustment of the stone. The design does not use cement or other fastening building components, but the blocks fit together flawlessly. On a block in the second tier, researchers found the name “Veranius” carved on stone - perhaps this name belongs to the architect of the bridge.

2. Among other aqueducts of Ancient Rome, the Carthaginian aqueduct is famous - now only ruins remain of it, but once it supplied water to the city from the rivers of the Tunisian Atlas. This powerful structure was 132 km long. Streams of water flowed naturally along the slopes of the terrain. The aqueduct itself was founded by the inhabitants of Carthage, and the construction was completed by the Romans. The structure was destroyed and rebuilt several times.

3. An ancient water bridge 30 meters high is located in the Spanish province of Segovia - it stretches for 17 kilometers. Nowadays, one of the preserved spans of the former bridge can be seen in the city center. The flow from this water supply was first directed into large tanks, then from the reservoirs the water flowed through other intra-city canals. The structure was destroyed by the Moors in the 11th century, but then the aqueduct was quickly restored.

4. Constantinople was a large and well-developed city, where there was also a great need for a supply of clean water. Even in the northern lands of Africa you can find the aqueducts of Ancient Rome - the Romans built a public water supply system in this territory. Nowadays, in the vicinity of Istanbul, tourists are still shown ruins - a small fragment of the building. This was one of the famous and powerful aqueducts - Valens, which was also reconstructed many times. The water supply was distinguished by a classic Roman style, the bridge was decorated with arches, from one of which the famous tourist route- Ataturk Boulevard.

5. Ancient engineers were able not only to supply the city with water, but also to develop a successful moisture conservation system. There were more than 40 reservoirs in ancient Istanbul, some of which are still in operation.

Tourists travel to Istanbul to see a unique underground reservoir hall with 336 columns: this is the Basilica Cistern, located near the Temple of Sophia. The water storage facility took almost a quarter of a century to build, and this reservoir was used for more than 1000 years. Now it is a real museum of man-made wonders, attracting travelers from all over the world.

6. The aqueduct in Ephesus is also interesting - ancient city, in which the white marble temple of Artemis was erected. After the wars, the city found itself in the power of the Romans, who sought to improve all their plots. In Ephesus they built not only baths and libraries, schools and a theater, but also a water supply system with an aqueduct. The water pipeline was made of ceramic material and ran above and below ground. The water main was assembled from pipe sections connected to each other by functional raster connections.

Water pipelines of Ancient Rome

See ancient aqueducts and visit the most interesting places, related to the history of Rome, is quite possible - just purchase an affordable tourist voucher from the travel agency website. This is an extensive selection of tours and the most comfortable conditions trips, pleasant experiences from excursions and excellent service.