Classical Studies 2700B

Water Supplies

Please note: We are reasonably well caught-up at the moment to where we should be in the class schedule; accordingly on Thursday, 4th February, I shall begin with a video on some of the differences between Greek and Roman construction methods, with particular reference to the Pantheon. Thereafter we shall finish the discussion of Roman Construction and then proceed to the material on Water Supplies. Please read very carefully the material in Landels prescribed for this class. CLM

The Romans were far from being the first people to have aqueducts. These are descended from ditches used by early agriculturalists to irrigate crops; then to supply drinking water for villages and towns; and then valleys on higher ground were dammed to help maintain a constant water-supply. Water supplies in the Bronze Age Aegean area (Knossos, Mycenae and Athens; also in Mohenjo-Daro). In later Greece, public wells and fountain-houses. More elaborate water supply systems by beginning of classical period; exx. of Samos and Pergamum (on the latter see Landels pp. 47-48); note use of “siphon”. Later still, the Romans tended to avoid high pressure systems, but had increasingly lengthy supply lines. Ultimately 11 systems fed the city; inside Rome the Aqua Claudia (built by Emperor Claudius in AD 47) had high arches; outside the city to the south the Aqua Marcia (144 BC) was most impressive in appearance, since it linked up with a later system (the Anio Novus, AD 52). Note superimposition of separate water channels; why was water not simply mixed and fed through one large channel?

Distribution systems (see Landels pp. 48-53); “constant flow” arrangement was general—but wasteful. Sometimes “taps” were used, but more like modern stop-cocks.

However, city of Rome was supplied with approx. 900 million litres of reasonably clean water per day.

Impressive systems in the western provinces of R. empire as well; exx of Segovia (Spain) and Nemausus (Nîmes) in S. France.