Ancient Rome spanned many centuries, with many Imperial Dynasties introducing many changes in culture, introducing temples and plumbing... something the modern world seems to struggle to believe was possible over 2000 years ago.
So, how advanced was Rome? What changed as new Emperors came to power? How much do we really know?
In Ancient Rome there were 23 springs of water from various different valleys around, and out of the city, due to Rome being equal distance from the sea and mountains with many ravines. Whilst some may have disappeared in modern terms due to soil blockages for example, in Ancient Times they were vital for survival.
An Aqueduct is an ancient plumbing system, where water flows from one place to another via a channel. Whether the water is safe to drink or not due to contamination is another issue.
The first aqueduct was built in 312 BC by Claudius Casecus and Plavtius Venox. It was named Aqua Appia. The Channel was built, and the spring was discovered 1153 metres North East off the 6th and 7th Milestones of the Via Collatina. This was a revolutionary time, changing people's daily habits and routines for good...
The second aqueduct was named Anio Vetus and was built in 272 BC by Manius Curius Dentatus, and was finished 3 years later by Fulvius Flaccus. This was 63, 704 metres in length, providing 277,866 cubic metres of water every 24 hours! That's enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool 111 times over! This water wasn't safe to drink though and was used for the irrigation of gardens and the flushing of drains.
The timeline of aqueducts went as followed...
312 BC = the first aqueduct was built
272 BC = the second aqueduct was built
144 BC = the Appia and Anio were to be repaired, and a new aqueduct named Marcia was to be built... this cost 8,000,000 sesterces
33 BC = Agrippa restored the aqueducts
5 BC =Augustus doubled the volume of water as he built the Aqua Augusta
SPECIFIC AQUEDUCTS... FROM WORST TO BEST
T H E W O R S T
AQUA ALEXANDER
The Aqua Alexander was the last of the aqueducts to come to Imperial Rome. It was brought in by Serverus Alexander for his baths and was as long as 22 km and it increased the city's supply of daily water by 21,632 cubic metres...
This is the lowest water supply coming in at only 8.6 Olympic Swimming pools...
AQUA ALSIETINA
This was described by Frontinus, a Civil Engineer of his time, as 'discreditable and unwholesome water.' Quite a damning review. Thus, instead of drinking water, it was used for orchard irrigation. It had a length of 32,848 metres long, providing 24,767 cubic metres per day!
AQUA TRAIANA
I don't know much about this aqueduct, only that it was completed in 109 AD and was 57,000 metres long providing 118,127 cubic metres of water!
It's getting better... this is the equivalent of 47 Olympic pools!
AQUA VIRGO
Specifically drawn into the canal by Agrippa, this aqueduct reached the city of Rome on the 9th of June 19BC. It was 20,697 metres, providing a whopping 158,208 cubic metres per day! Massive amounts.
AQUA CLAUDIA
Caligula began the building of this aqueduct in 38BC, and the process took 14 whole years to complete; we are getting to the bigger, magnificent aqueducts now! This was much better than Aqua Alsietina, as the water was here used for the Imperial Table... providing palaces with beautiful water to drink. This was built over 15,000 metres of arches, providing an extraordinary 209,252 cubic metres per day!
This would be able to fill 83 Olympic Pools per day!
ANIO NOVUS
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