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
There are some remains of another reservoir within the wall of Rome, on
the bank between this and the Porta di S. Lorenzo, which seems to have
belonged to the Julia: the _specus_ of the Marcia, with that of the
Tepula and remains of that of the Julia over it, are visible on an arcade
a little beyond, close to the gate. The lower part of a fine brick wall
with bold buttresses, of the usual character of a _piscina_ or _castellum
aquæ_, are visible, and this faces the present Wall of Rome, almost
touching it, so that this has been built since the _piscina_, but that
not being exactly in the same line it could not be used. The _piscina_ of
the Tepula being on the outer side of the bank or _mœnia_ came into the
line of defence of Aurelian, and was used as part of his wall; that of
the Julia, being on the inner side of the bank, was too much within the
line to be used.
The Castellum Aquæ Juliæ, or chief reservoir of the Julian Aqueduct, is
usually, but erroneously, said to have been the one situated on high
ground near the church of S. Maria Maggiore, where the picturesque ruins
stand, usually called the “Trophies of Marius,” because those trophies
were hung under two of the arches there, until they were removed to the
Capitol. A lofty arcade carrying a _specus_ at a high level passes across
the valley, from the reservoir near the Porta S. Lorenzo to this point.
This arcade is of the first century, built of the fine brickwork usual at
that period, and agrees with the time of Frontinus; but the only aqueduct
that was high enough to have carried water to that spot was the Anio
Novus.
This great reservoir was rebuilt by Alexander Severus, and called a
Nymphæum, being given as such on one of his coins. This name is rather a
vague one; but it is evident, from some excavations made in 1871, that
there were extensive _thermæ_ of the Emperors of the third century near
this place.
From this lofty reservoir the distributing channels may be seen branching
off in different directions, one going to the Thermæ of Titus, towards
the reservoir called the Sette Sale, another going in a different
direction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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