The archæology of Rome, Part 8 : $b The aqueductsParker, John Henry
History
The archæology of Rome, Part 8 : $b The aqueducts
Parker, John Henry
Rome -- Antiquities
passing across from the Cœlian to the Aventine, over the Aqua Appia,
before described, and passing by the north end of the Piscina Publica,
as rebuilt in the time of Trajan over the old one, which had belonged to
the older aqueducts. There are considerable remains of the walls of this
period, that divided the chambers shewn in 557, 558, 1288.
This arcade can then be traced against the cliff of the Pseudo-Aventine,
on the north side of S. Balbina, though partly concealed by the filling
up of the space against the cliff before mentioned. The tall arcade
then crosses the valley from the Pseudo-Aventine to the other part of
the Aventine, and from the garden of S. Balbina to that of S. Prisca,
and, in the latter garden, there are considerable remains of it on the
cliff opposite to the Palatine. At the north end is the _specus_ upon
the arcade (the top is open, and there is a walk upon it), 79. A small
portion of the Thermæ of Sura is also shewn, with the _specus_ in front
of the ancient wall of tufa, called the Wall of the Latins (833).
From the _piscina_ and reservoir on the cliff of the Cœlian another
branch went to the south, over the spring of the Camenæ (?) 692, and near
that of Egeria (?); it was carried over the Porta Metronia, and on the
bank of the City Wall as far as the Porta Latina.
Another fine arcade of the time of Nero (No. 1317) leads to the Nymphæum
before mentioned, where the Trophies of Marius were hung. The elevation
shews that this water must have come from the highest of the aqueducts,
the Anio Novus; and the remains of the reservoir near the Porta di S.
Lorenzo, supposed to have been for the Aqua Julia, being on high ground,
may have been for this branch, which conveyed water to the Thermæ of
Titus.
X. SABATINA TRAJANA.
Great works for the aqueducts were carried on in the time of Trajan. One
great work of his time was to bring water from the lake Sabatina to the
top of the Janiculum. Augustus had previously brought water from that
lake, supplementary to his aqueduct, from the lake Alseatina (VII.), to
supply his Naumachia in the Trastevere; but the Aqueduct of Augustus was
on the lowest level, that of Trajan on the highest. It does not appear
that Trajan made use of the old _specus_ of Augustus; but his aqueduct
was afterwards made use of by the engineers of Pope Paul V. for the Aqua
Paola, although they also brought a branch to it from the Alseatina, as
Augustus had done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account