The Roman Aqueducts
Aqueducts are a system of irrigation that transports water over long distances. The term “aqueduct” is of Latin origin, “aqua” means water and “ductus” means channel. The most commonly known are the Roman aqueducts. Although, the romans did not invent the aqueduct they improved and developed the system with their exceptional skills in engineering. Aqueducts and other irrigation methods that were first used in early Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, and India, but they were not fully refined until the Romans. Some of the Aqueducts built by the Romans are still utilized today. The demand of water use surpassed the amount of water that could be supplied by the nearby bodies of water. The first Roman aqueduct was built to supply the growing needs of the
…show more content…
In chronological order there is Aqua Appia, Aqua Anio Vetus, Aqua Marcia, Aqua Tepula, Aqua Julia, Aqua Virgo, Aqua Alsietina, Aqua Claudia, Aqua Anio Novus, Aqua Traiana, and Aqua Alexandrina. Aqua Appia was built in 312 B.C. The aqueduct let out about 75,500 cubic meters of water. It supplied water to the lower parts of the city. Aqua Anio Vetus, an aqueduct built in 272 B.C. supplied more water to the higher levels several of the city. Aqua Marcia was constructed in 144 B.C. It is the longest of the eleven Roman aqueducts, stretching almost fifty-seven miles. In 127 B.C., Aqua Tepula was built. Its water source comes from the Alban hills and is only 18 miles long. The Roman consul, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa led the construction of Aqua Julia in 33 B.C. Its water source is also located in the Alban hills, like Aqua Tepula. Aqua Virgo was completed in 19 B.C. Stories say that a little girl led soldiers that were waterless to a spring which became the water source for Aqua Virgo. It became unused and run-down after the fall of the Roman Empire until in 1453 the Pope at the time reconstructed the ancient aqueduct and renamed Aqua Vergine. Seventeen years later Aqua Alsietina was opened during the reign of Augustus which is why it is sometimes also referred to as Aqua Augustus. Its water was not drinkable. Instead it was used to water fields and gardens. In 38 A.D. Caligula
In chronological order there is Aqua Appia, Aqua Anio Vetus, Aqua Marcia, Aqua Tepula, Aqua Julia, Aqua Virgo, Aqua Alsietina, Aqua Claudia, Aqua Anio Novus, Aqua Traiana, and Aqua Alexandrina. Aqua Appia was built in 312 B.C. The aqueduct let out about 75,500 cubic meters of water. It supplied water to the lower parts of the city. Aqua Anio Vetus, an aqueduct built in 272 B.C. supplied more water to the higher levels several of the city. Aqua Marcia was constructed in 144 B.C. It is the longest of the eleven Roman aqueducts, stretching almost fifty-seven miles. In 127 B.C., Aqua Tepula was built. Its water source comes from the Alban hills and is only 18 miles long. The Roman consul, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa led the construction of Aqua Julia in 33 B.C. Its water source is also located in the Alban hills, like Aqua Tepula. Aqua Virgo was completed in 19 B.C. Stories say that a little girl led soldiers that were waterless to a spring which became the water source for Aqua Virgo. It became unused and run-down after the fall of the Roman Empire until in 1453 the Pope at the time reconstructed the ancient aqueduct and renamed Aqua Vergine. Seventeen years later Aqua Alsietina was opened during the reign of Augustus which is why it is sometimes also referred to as Aqua Augustus. Its water was not drinkable. Instead it was used to water fields and gardens. In 38 A.D. Caligula