Part 2b: Rome's Imperial Aqueducts

8.       Aqua Claudia/Aqua Anio Novus

The Channels of the Aqua Claudia and
 Aqua Anio Novus in the Porta Maggiore
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porta_Maggiore)

The Aqua Claudia was begun at the same time as the Aqua Anio Novus, by Caligula in 38 CE, but upon his death would be finished by Claudius in 54 CE. It drew from the springs in the upper Anio Valley, and was considered the second best aqueduct in the entire city. The Aqua Anio Novus however, was derived directly from the Anio River, and though it had decent water, it was prone to pollution of mud during heavy rains. The water of the two lines were mixed before distribution (as we saw in the Julia and Tepula), which upset Frontinus as he believed it diminished the quality of the water. They distributed water to the Caelian, the Palatine, Aventine, and Transtiber areas. The magnificent Porta Maggiore was a part of the Claudia/Anio Novus line and would carry it across the busy Via Labicana and Via Praenestina.

It is here that Frontinus’s data ends, as the remaining two aqueducts were not built until well after he died. I will discuss briefly the final two aqueducts below.

9.       Aqua Traiana

The Aqua Traiana is unfortunately shrouded in a lot of mystery. We do know basic facts like that it originated in the northeast of Rome from a spring near Trevignano, and that the water quality was of a very high level. It supplied mostly the Transtiber district, which had grown rapidly by 109 CE, and was lacking in drinkable water sources, but also could be used as a back supply for the rest of the city due to its large output. It was the last of the great aqueducts built by emperors, and remains are sparse at best.

10.   Aqua Alexandria

Not much is to be said about the Aqua Alexandria other than it was built by Alexander Severus in 226 CE to supply his Baths of Alexander in the Campus Martius, and ran 16 km to its source from springs south of the city.

The Imperial aqueducts are much more numerous, in addition to being larger, but this is due to the cast conquests that will come under the reigns of these people. Regrettably, very few remains are left of any of the aqueducts and those within the city either have been destroyed or are inaccessible because of modern urban life.

Bibliography

Evans, Harry B. Water Distribution in Ancient Rome: The Evidence of Frontinus. Ann Arbor:

        University of Michigan Press, 1994.

Frontinus. Stratagems. Aqueducts of Rome. Translated by C. E. Bennett, Mary B.

       McElwain. Loeb Classical Library 174. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1925.