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
The Aqua Appia (I.) is at so great a depth near the Porta Maggiore
(which stands on very high ground), that it is difficult to trace it,
but the _specus_ was found in making the railway in a deep cutting about
half-a-mile outside of that gate, and was described in the _Bulletino di
Correspondenza Archæoligia_ at the time it was found. There is reason
to believe that it entered Rome under the wall on the north side of the
Sessorian Gardens, and was received in a reservoir, of which there are
remains at a considerable depth, especially the lower story. This is near
the reservoir of the great Basilica or Hall of the Palace, of which the
apse remains. The plan and section of this reservoir are shewn in this
diagram. The _specus_ from this point turned to the west, and passed
along the Cœlian Hill at a low level, nearly under the arches of Nero;
but before arriving at these, it passed through another large and deep
reservoir to the south of the Porta Maggiore, now in a vineyard, with
another large reservoir close to it. These two are believed from the
situation to be the Gemelli of Frontinus. An inscription was found on the
one in the garden of the Sessorium relating to the Thermæ of S. Helena,
who resided in that palace, and probably the water for her bath-chambers
was taken from this reservoir.
PLATE VI.
II. ANIO VETUS.
[Illustration: VI.
THE AQUEDUCTS.—ANIO VETUS. RESERVOIR NEAR THE PORTA FURBA.
A. SECTION, SHEWING THE DEPTH UNDERGROUND.
B. PLAN OF THE TWO CHAMBERS AND THE ENTRANCE.]
The reservoir, of which the plan and section are given in this plate,
is situated at about a quarter of a mile from the Porta Furba, near the
junction of the old Via Latina with the Via Appia Nova. It is just two
miles from Rome, and so agrees with the text of Frontinus. It seems
clear that at this point part of its water was carried by the Octavian
_specus_ to the Porta Maggiore, while the main stream went on along the
side of the Via Appia Nova to the Asinian Gardens, just within the Porta
Asinaria. It was shewn in some excavations made under my direction in
1871. We had long been looking for it, and the gardener informed us that
there was a vaulted chamber under part of that garden or vineyard, where
we found it, a few feet underground, and about a hundred yards from the
arcade of the great aqueduct on the southern side, nearer to the present
road than the reservoir.
PLATE VII.
LOCH IN THE AQUA JULIA, NEAR THE IMPERIAL VILLA, CALLED THE SETTE BASSI
(SEPTIMIUS BASSUS?).
[Illustration: VII.
THE AQUEDUCTS.
A LOCH IN THE AQUA JULIA, NEAR THE VILLA CALLED SETTE BASSI. PLAN AND
SECTION.
A. SECTION OF THE BRANCH.
B. THE SPECUS.
B. PLAN, SHEWING THE DIVISION AND THE LOCH.
A. A. THE SPECUS.
B. THE LOCH FOR THE BRANCH.]
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