serino augustan aqueduct - greenopoli = condivisione · 2014-05-26 · roman aqueducts ancient rome...

UNIVERSITY OF SALERNO UNIVERSITY OF SALERNO -- ITALYITALYDepartment of Civil EngineeringDepartment of Civil Engineering

www.unisa.diciv.itwww.unisa.diciv.itwww.unisa.itwww.unisa.it

Historical Development of the Augustan Aqueduct in Historical Development of the Augustan Aqueduct in Southern Italy: Twenty Centuries of WorksSouthern Italy: Twenty Centuries of Works

from from SERINOSERINO to NAPLESto NAPLES

EU, FAO, UNESCO, EUREAU, Assoc. of Greek Municipalities

Giovanni DE FEOGiovanni DE FEOVia Ferrari, 14Via Ferrari, 14

83028 83028 SERINOSERINO (AV)(AV)

IWA IWA SpecialtySpecialty ConferenceConference: 1: 1stst InternationalInternational Symposium on Symposium on Water and Water and WastewaterWastewater Technologies in Technologies in AncientAncient CivilizationsCivilizations

OctoberOctober 2828--30, 2006 30, 2006 -- HeraklionHeraklion ((IraklioIraklio), Crete, ), Crete, GreeceGreece

Roman AqueductsRoman AqueductsAncient Rome is famous all over the world for its aqueducts. As a matter of fact, Rome's water supply system was considered one ofthe marvels of the ancient world. The aqueducts went wherever Rome went, an outward symbol of all that Rome stood for and all that Rome had to offer (Hodge, 2002).

The first aqueductsThe first aqueductsThe Romans were not the first to construct aqueducts. In fact, it is well known that the Greeks were the first to realize an aqueduct(Adam, 1988).One of the most famous aqueducts in ancient Greece is the tunnel of tunnel of EupalinosEupalinos (VI century B.C.) for the water supply of Samos (Angelakiset al., 2005).

The first aqueductsThe first aqueductsBut the first pressurised Greek aqueducts was the aqueduct of PergamonPergamon, with the considerable siphon of 190 m, realised during the kingdom of Eumenes II (197197--159 B.C159 B.C).Instead, already in the 312 B.C.312 B.C. Appius Claudis realised the Aqua Aqua AppiaAppia in RomeRome.The origin of the term “aqueduct” is from:

AquiductusAquiductus = = aquaeaquae + + ductusductusAqueduct = Aqueduct = waterwater + + conduit (duct)conduit (duct)

Italian – AcquedottoFrench – AqueducDutch - AquaductSpanish – AcueductoPortuguese - Aqueduto

Why did Romans build aqueducts?Why did Romans build aqueducts?In general, the Roman aqueducts were not built to provide drinking water, nor to promote hygiene, but to supply the bats (Hodge, 2002)or for military aims.Other purposes were the following (Hodge, 2002; Tolle-Kastenbein, 2005): domestic supplies, garden irrigation, aquatic shows, flour mills, decorative fountains and public fountains.

Roman aqueducts historic literatureRoman aqueducts historic literatureIn the historic literature concerning Roman aqueducts, there are two authentic milestones (Panimolle, 1984; Adam, 1988; Hodge, 2002; Tolle-Kastenbein, 2005):

De De AquisAquis Urbis Urbis RomaeRomaeby SextusSextus Julius Julius FrontinusFrontinus

Book VIIIBook VIII of De De ArchitecturaArchitecturaby Vitruvius Vitruvius PollioPollio

OpusOpus poligonalispoligonalisOpusOpus craticiumcraticium OpusOpus incertumincertum

OpusOpus latericiumlatericiumOpusOpus quadratumquadratum

OpusOpus reticolatumreticolatum

Components of a Roman aqueductComponents of a Roman aqueductNowadays, the popular but inaccurate image is that Roman aqueducts were elevated throughout their entire length on lines of lines of archesarches. Roman engineers were very practical and therefore whenever possible the aqueduct followed a steady downhill coursesteady downhill courseat or below ground levelbelow ground level (Hansen, 2006).

Components of a Roman aqueductComponents of a Roman aqueduct

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110

(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -

castellum aquae divisorium;(11) water distribution system

The water descended through concrete channels. Multi-tiered viaducts were used to cross low areas; inverted siphons were employed when valleys were particularly deep; tunnels, burrowed through hill too difficult to skirt, were equipped with vertical shafts for inspection and cleaning. Debris cleaned from the tunnels was dumped beside the openings to the vertical shafts.


(1)(1) source source –– caput caput aquaeaquae;;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


(1) source – caput aquae;(2)(2) steep chutes (steep chutes (dropshaftsdropshafts););(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3)(3) settling tank;settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4)(4) tunnel and shafts;tunnel and shafts;(5)(5) covered trench;covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6)(6) aqueduct bridge;aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7)(7) inverted siphon;inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8)(8) substructionsubstruction;;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9)(9) arcade;arcade;(10) distribution basin -


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10)(10) distribution basin distribution basin --

castellumcastellum aquaeaquae divisoriumdivisorium;;(11) water distribution system

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1110

(1) source – caput aquae;(2) steep chutes (dropshafts);(3) settling tank;(4) tunnel and shafts;(5) covered trench;(6) aqueduct bridge;(7) inverted siphon;(8) substruction;(9) arcade;(10) distribution basin -

castellum aquae divisorium;(11)(11) water distribution systemwater distribution system

The Aim: Augustan Aqueduct SThe Aim: Augustan Aqueduct S--NN--MM

Campania Campania RegionRegion

ITALYITALY

SERINOSERINO

Mercato S. SeverinoCastel S.

Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli

AgnanoAcquaroAcquaro--PelosiPelosispringspring (376 m)(376 m)

Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

The “The “SerinoSerino” Aqueduct” Aqueduct

The Serino aqueduct is not well known because there are no remains of spectacular bridgesno remains of spectacular bridges, but it was a significant piece of engineering and one of the largest one of the largest aqueduct systems in the whole Roman Empire.aqueduct systems in the whole Roman Empire.Its importance is testified by several bibliographic bibliographic referencesreferences concerning:

specific books of local authors (Pavesio, 1985; PescatoreColucci, 1996; Moscati, 2005; De Biase, 2006)academic studies (Catalano, 2003)historical technical treaties (Lettieri, 1560 in Giustiniani, 1797;Abate, 1864; Società Veneta, 1885; Sgobbo, 1938)web sites (Potenza, 1996; Nocella and Abbate, 2003; Passchierand Schram 2005)and even a novel: Pompeii (Harris, 2003).

Chronology: 33Chronology: 33--12 B.C.12 B.C.The Serino aqueduct was constructed during the AugustusAugustus period of the Roman Empire, probably between 33 and 12 B.C. when Marcus Marcus VipsaniusVipsanius AgrippaAgrippa was curator aquarum in Rome,

principally in order to refurnish the Roman fleet of Roman fleet of MisenumMisenum(Miseno) andsecondarily to supply water for the increasing demand of the important commercial commercial harbourharbour of Puteoli (Pozzuoli) as well as drinking waterdrinking water for big cities such as Cumae (Cuma) and Neapolis (Naples).

AugustusAugustusMarcus Marcus VipsaniusVipsanius

AgrippaAgrippaPrinaPrina LegioLegio AuditrixAuditrix

Chronology: 79 A.C.Chronology: 79 A.C.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius!Eruption of Mount Vesuvius!

ChronologyChronologyFor a long time, up to 1938, the Serino aqueduct was usually reported as the Claudius aqueductClaudius aqueduct, being retained that it was realized in the Claudius period (41-54 A.C.). The mistake was due to the discovery in Puteoli, in the fourteenth century, of big fistulae fistulae plumbeeplumbee (lead pipes) on which there was impressed the name of the Emperor Claudius (Moscati, 2005).

Chronology: 324 A.C.Chronology: 324 A.C.The enigma was resolved only in the last century, in the ‘30s, during the excavation for the construction of the new new aqueduct of Naplesaqueduct of Naples, near the AcquaroAcquaro--Pelosi springPelosi spring.During this work, in fact, an important marble epigraphmarble epigraph was discovered.The archaeological find gives information on the repairsrepairsexecuted in the period JulyJuly--November 324 A.C.November 324 A.C. by CostantinumCostantinum as well as the name of the cities of the Campania Region served by the repaired aqueduct; in order of importance (decreasing flowrate supplied), they were: PuteoliPuteoli, , NeapolisNeapolis, Nola, , Nola, AtellaAtella, Cumae, , Cumae, AcerraeAcerrae, , BaiaeBaiae and and MisenumMisenum (Sgobbo, 1938; Pavesio, 1985; Pezzella, 2002; Potenza, 1996; Catalano, 2003; Moscati, 2005; De Biase, 2006).The marble epigraph, 1.86×0.86×0.17 m, today is kept in the connection chamber of the Acquaro-Pelosi spring.

The marble epigraphThe marble epigraph

The marble epigraphThe marble epigraph

D(omini) N(ostri) Fl(avius) Constantinus maxi(mus) Pius Felix Victor Aug(ustus) et Fl(avius) Iul(ius) Crispus, et Fl(avius)

Cl(audius) Constantinus nobiles Cae(saris)

FontisFontis AugusteiAugustei AquaeductumAquaeductum

longalonga incuriaincuria et et vetustatevetustate corruptumcorruptum

pro magnificentia liberalitates consuetae

sua pecunia refici iusserunt et usui civitatiuminfrascriptarum reddiderunt

dedicante Ceionio Iuliano vi(ro) c(larissimo) Con(sulari) Campaniae

curante Pontiano vi(ro) p(erfectissimo) praepositoeiusdem aqua(e)ductus

nomina civitatium

PuteolanaPuteolana NeapolitanaNeapolitana NolanaNolana AtellanaAtellana Cumana Cumana AcerranaAcerrana BaianaBaiana MisenumMisenum

ChronologyChronologyAfter the fall of the Roman EmpireAfter the fall of the Roman Empire, the Serino Aqueduct together with the major part of Roman aqueducts went out of serviceout of service because of the low level of maintenancelow level of maintenance carried out as well as the devastation as a consequence of the Barbarian invasionsBarbarian invasions (Pavesio, 1985; Moscati, 2005; De Biase, 2006).

Chronology: VI centuryChronology: VI centuryIn the VI centuries Naples was invaded several times by OstrogotiOstrogotiof TotilaTotila and the Serino aqueduct was one of the strategic targets destroyed in order to conquer the city.In particular, Procopio, a Greek historian tells how General General BelisarioBelisarioordered the aqueduct channel out of the Costantinopoli’sCostantinopoli’s doordoor of Naples to be broken.A soldier was able to enter in the city using the aqueduct channel and after him, General Belisariotogether with other 400 soldiers followed.Then, just like Ulysses in Troy, Belisario and his troupe opened the doors of Naples to the rest of his army (Pavesio, 1985; De Biase, 2006).

Chronology: from VI to XV century Chronology: from VI to XV century The aqueduct had a black hole of a millennium in which it was out of service and completely forgotten.

Chronology: 1442Chronology: 1442Alfonso Alfonso d’Aragonad’Aragona used the same technique of Belisario in his battle against RenatoRenato d’Angiòd’Angiò (Pavesio, 1985; De Biase, 2006).

Alfonso Alfonso d’Aragonad’Aragona RenatoRenato d’Angiòd’Angiò

Chronology: 1532Chronology: 1532--15531553In the period 1532-1553, during the Hispanic domination of Naples, the viceré don Pietro Toledo entrusted PietroPietro Antonio Antonio LettieriLettieri(Tabularius) to investigate the way to increase the supply of drinking increase the supply of drinking waterwater for the city.Lettieri was a technician with expertise in topography and after four years of study, proposed the complete recovery of the complete recovery of the AuguestanAuguestanacqueductacqueduct as a possible solution to the problem of water scarcity (Pavesio, 1985; De Biase, 2006).The report written by Pietro Antonio Lettieri was copied for the first time by Giambattista Bolvito and conserved in the archives of Real Corte, and then collected in Archives of P.P. Chierici Regolari Teatini of SS. Apostoliof Naples (Giustiniani, 1797; Pavesio, 1985).Lettieri’s project remained on the papers because of its high costhigh cost. In that period the Fontis Augustei was property of the Prince of Avellino, who earned a lot from the use of water for factories, watermills and irrigation (Pavesio, 1985).Pietro Antonio Lettieri was able to describe the route of the ancient route of the ancient SerinoSerino aqueductaqueduct (Pavesio, 1985; Moscati, 2005; De Biase, 2006).

Chronology: 1840Chronology: 1840--18641864Three centuries after the study of Lettieri, another important investigation took place.From 1840 to 1864, architect Antonio AbateAntonio Abate, in fact, investigated the route, the works and the places interested by the ancient Augusteanaqueduct (Abate, 1864).

Chronology: Chronology: May the 10May the 10thth, 1885, 1885May the 10th, 1885, in the famous PlebiscitoPlebiscito squaresquare, was a great day for Naples: the people again had the famous water of Serino.However, the water did not come from the Fontis Augustei(Acquaro-Pelosi spring) but from the nearby UrciuoliUrciuoli SpringSpring (324 m). This source, in the same period of the Augustean aqueduct Serino-Neapolis-Misenum, was the caput aquae for the aqueduct aqueduct SerinoSerino--BeneventumBeneventum (36 km long).

Route, Works and PlacesRoute, Works and PlacesThe main channelmain channel of the SERINOSERINO (1)(1) aqueduct in its route toward NAPLESNAPLES (2)(2) and MISENOMISENO (3)(3) was approximately 96 km long.The length from SerinoSerino (1)(1) to Naples (2)Naples (2) was approximately 78 km78 kmlong.The length from Naples (2)Naples (2) to MisenoMiseno (3)(3) was around 18 km18 kmThere were 7 main branches7 main branches: Nola, Pompeii, Acerra, Herculaneum, Atella, Pausillipon, Nisida, Puteoli, Cumae and Baiae.The total length of all the branches was approximately 49 km49 kmThe SerinoSerino aqueduct complexaqueduct complex had a length of around 145 km145 km

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

Route, Works and PlacesRoute, Works and Places

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Aqua A

ugus

taCart

agine

Aqua M

arcia

Anio N

ovus

Aqua C

laudia

Anio V

etus

Aqua T

raian

a

Aqua A

lsietin

a

Aqua A

lexan

drian

aAqu

a Iuli

aAqu

a Virg

oAqu

a Tep

ulaAqu

a App

ia

Tota

l len

gth

[Km

]

020000400006000080000100000120000140000160000180000200000

Flow

rate

[m3 /d

]

Length Flowrate

SerinoSerino: the : the caput caput aquaeaquae

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

Sandstone, clay and marl

Limestone

Dolomite

“Dragon’s Mouth” swallow hole

Principal spring

Groundwater flow direction

Groundwater catchment limit

Alluvial soil

endoreicbasin

Sandstone, clay and marl

Limestone

Dolomite

“Dragon’s Mouth” swallow hole

Principal spring

Groundwater flow direction

Groundwater catchment limit

Alluvial soil

endoreicbasin

The The karstkarst aquifer “aquifer “TerminioTerminio--TuoroTuoro””

Caput Caput AquaeAquaeAcquaroAcquaro--PelosiPelosispringspring (376 m)(376 m)

SERINOSERINO

The The karstkarst aquifer “aquifer “TerminioTerminio--TuoroTuoro””

endoreicbasin

endoreicbasin

SerinoSerino: the caput : the caput aquaeaquae

Gold coin representing Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, discovered near the caput aquae

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

Castel San GiorgioCastel San Giorgio

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

SarnoSarno

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

PompeiiPompeii

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

PompeiiPompeii

castellumcastellumaquaeaquae

divisoriumdivisorium((dividiculumdividiculum))

castellumcastellum aquaeaquaesecondariumsecondarium

Pompeii: Pompeii: castellumcastellum divisoriumdivisoriumThe capacity of the branch that ended in in the castellum aquae of Pompeii was 42 l/sec (Passchier and Schram, 2005).

Pompeii: Pompeii: castellumcastellum divisoriumdivisorium

PompeiiPompeii

Ohlig (2001) investigated the connection of the investigated the connection of the castellumcastellum aquaeaquaewith the with the SerinoSerino aqueduct.aqueduct.It is very likely that Pompeii first received water via her own It is very likely that Pompeii first received water via her own aqueduct from the mountains due north east of Avella.aqueduct from the mountains due north east of Avella.The town must have had a long distance water supply, quite The town must have had a long distance water supply, quite some time before the Augustan Age, probably around 80 BC.some time before the Augustan Age, probably around 80 BC.When the When the SerinoSerino aqueduct was built under aqueduct was built under AugustusAugustus, it crossed , it crossed the course of the older Avella aqueduct between the Apennines the course of the older Avella aqueduct between the Apennines and Mount Vesuvius, and both aqueducts were united into a and Mount Vesuvius, and both aqueducts were united into a single system.single system.

Pompeii: Pompeii: castellumcastellum secondariumsecondarium

HerculanumHerculanum

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

NaplesNaples

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

PontiPonti Rossi (Red Bridges)Rossi (Red Bridges)

MisenumMisenum

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

MisenumMisenumDuring the war with Pompeius, Augustus ordered the construction of a harbour complex just west of Puteoli, named PortusPortus IuliusIulius, where an old Greek dam was restored to create an artificial lake, Lacus Lacus LucrinusLucrinus, which was then connected by a channel to another lake, Lacus Lacus AvernusAvernus, which was traditionally one of the entrances to the underworld.

MisenumMisenumLater, this harbour was seen as less ideal, because of silting problems, and a new complex was built further west at MisenumMisenum, where two lakes were connected to become the basis of the western Mediterranean war fleet. This major naval base needed large quantities of fresh water for the base itself and for the ships, which must have been one of the reasons why Augustus had a new aqueduct built.

MisenumMisenum

Total relief and mean slopesTotal relief and mean slopesThe total relief of the aqueduct is 366366 m from the source (1)source (1) to the PiscinaPiscina Mirabilis (3)Mirabilis (3) at 10 m10 m altitude, which gives a mean slope of 0.38%0.38% (3.81 m/km3.81 m/km).The mean slope of the stretch from SerinoSerino (1)(1) to Naples (2)Naples (2) (PontiRossi at 41.4m41.4m) was 0.43%0.43% (4.29m/km4.29m/km).The mean slope from (2)(2) to (3)(3) was 0.17%0.17% (1.74 m/km1.74 m/km).Along the route, the local slope varied considerably: from 0.016%0.016% to 0.73%0.73%.

SERINOSERINO


Giorgio

Sarno

Palma

Nola

Pompei

Ercolano

NAPLESNAPLESCuma

MISENOMISENO

Forino

Acerra

Pozzuoli

Piscina Mirabilis

Contrada

Atella

Nisida

Baia

PosillipoBagnoli


Somma (1)(1)(2)(2)

(3)(3)

10 km0 5 10

Aqueduct Aqueduct specusspecus

0.850.45 0.45

1.75

0.45

0.30

1.75

0.40

2.90

2.05

The specus of the aqueduct varied in size, but was mostly 0.8 m 0.8 m widewide and 1.8 m high1.8 m high.The maximum capacitymaximum capacity at the upper sections can be estimated in approximately 1,000 L/s1,000 L/s, which would be a total of 86,400 m86,400 m33/d/d.

PiscinaPiscina MirabilisMirabilisThe Piscina Mirabilis, situated up the hill facing the sea in order to provide the Classis Praetoria Misenensis, is a gigantic reservoir 72 72 m longm long and 27 m large27 m large.48 pillars48 pillars divide it in 5 aisles on the long sides and 13 aisles on the short sides.It has a volumetric capacity of 12.600 m12.600 m33 of water.

72 meter

27 m

eter

Inle

t wat

er

1.2

1.2 4.9 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.24.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.3 4.9

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

1.2

4.9

4.3

44

4.9

Ancient Roman entrance

PiscinaPiscina MirabilisMirabilisThe long wall were realized in opus reticolatum (reticular work) with brick bonding courses and by the technique of the tufa stone pillars, both covered with a thick waterproof layer of opus signinum(pounded terracotta).The water, through a series of doors opening in the vault along the central nave, was raised through hydraulic engines on the covering terrace of the reservoir, which was also floored with signinum and from there, canalized towards the built-up area.

10 m

eter

PiscinaPiscina MirabilisMirabilis

Other cisternsOther cisternsClose the Piscina Mirabilis, there are two other large cisterns, probably belonging to large villas, the GrottaGrotta DragonaraDragonara and Cento Cento CamerelleCamerelle (Nerone’s jail). In Pozzuoli, the aqueduct served several cisterns, notably the Piscina Cardito (55×16 m) from the second century, and the Piscina Lusciano (35×20 m) from the first century AD. In Baiae, a tunnel with two cisterns, known as the CryptaRomana, was filled by the aqueduct (Adam, 1988; Catalano, 2003; Passchier and Schram, 2005).

ConclusionsConclusionsThe aqueduct was probably constructed between 33 and 12 B.C.33 and 12 B.C. when Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was curator aquarum in Rome.The main channelmain channel was approximately 96 km96 kmlong.The aqueduct had 7 main branches7 main branchescorresponding to approximately 49 km49 km.The total lengthtotal length of the Serino aqueduct could be around 145 km145 km and therefore it should be considered the largest aqueduct the largest aqueduct system in the Roman world!system in the Roman world!

serino augustan aqueduct - greenopoli = condivisione · 2014-05-26 · roman aqueducts ancient rome...

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