Chapter XI: Appendix: Aqueducts (3)

These three may all be treated as one aqueduct for the supply of Rome, partly natural and partly artificial. They all come from the Alban Hills; the first from near Rocca di Papa on very high ground, the second from about a mile above the small and very picturesque town of Marino; the third lower down the same hill. They are all mountain streams, and partake of the usual character of such streams; in dry weather the springs that supply the Almo bring so little water, that it is only sufficient to fill some ponds for cattle at the foot of the hill. The deep bed of the river, which winds about the Campagna for miles, is therefore dry for a great part of the year, but the other two streams never fail; they are united at the foot of the hill, not far from the place where the Aqua Aurelia came from. The greater part of their united waters runs into the river Anio, but a portion of it is diverted near the ruins of the ancient fortified village or _pagus_, called _Centroni_ (2315, 2316, 2317, 2318, 2319), on the road to Tusculum, (now Frascati,) about eight miles from Rome. This branch to supply Rome is first brought through an ancient tunnel of the Aqua Julia, at each end of which remains can be seen of the stone _specus_ and the flood-gates (2310, 2311, 2312, 2313). The water is then conveyed in a bank of clay for about a mile, and then in the bed of one of the many branches of the mountain stream called the river Almo, and so brought into Rome (1309, 1318), under the Porta Metronia, which is built upon a bridge over it. The stream passes under some other bridges with mills upon them, and eventually falls into the Tiber through an aperture left for it in the Pulchrum Littus, or fine tufa wall of the Kings (drawing, 1235*; plans, 368*, 1234*; views, 77, 166, 157).

Another branch from it is carried from the junction or separation between the Torre Fiscale and Roma Vecchia (1937*) by the side of the cross road from the Via Appia Nova to the Via Appia Antiqua. Sometimes in the bed of the Almo, and in other parts, where the ground is low and the stream is liable to floods, an artificial canal is made for it, which may be seen in the valley of the Caffarella. This excellent plan was carried out in the most economical but effectual manner by a company in the twelfth century. This is really an aqueduct, though not usually so called; it is kept in repair by the present Water-Company, and is of great importance for Rome; as the floods to which the Almo was always liable along its whole line, and within the walls of Rome, (as is mentioned by Cicero,) are effectually kept out of Rome, and a constant, regular supply of water is obtained.

XVIII. AQUA FELICE, made A.D. 1587 by Pope Sixtus V. (Felice Peretti).

The sources of it are the springs under the hill on which La Colonna stands. The same water had been used long before, and brought into Rome by the aqueduct (XI.) of Hadrian and Trajan before mentioned. The large reservoir for the water now in use is very near to the remains of the old one of Hadrian. The construction of this aqueduct is very rude and rough, of concrete and rubble-stone only, and this stone consists entirely of old materials; still the large scale of the work, and the height at which the _specus_ is carried upon the arcade, give it a grand effect. At a little distance, the inferior construction is not seen, and this almost modern aqueduct is frequently mistaken by strangers for one of the old ones of the time of the Empire, of which it is only an imitation. It is seen in several of the views of the older aqueducts in the Campagna, especially those at the Torre Fiscale (531, 1028, 1029) and the Porta Furba (68, 1437). Here it crosses the road to Frascati on an arch, with an inscription upon it. In the latter part of its course it is made on the piers of the Claudian arcade, and it enters Rome at the same point, the north-east corner of the gardens of S. Croce. After passing along the north side of them, it is divided into different branches by a reservoir at the angle, close to the south side of the Porta Maggiore (30). The principal stream then passes along upon the Wall of Aurelian (80 A, B, 81), on the same high bank as the earlier aqueducts had done; it was cut through in making the railway, but a new bridge over that road was built for it (29). Near this it can be seen that it is carried on the piers of an older aqueduct for some distance (28). See Alexandrina (XV.)

Further on towards the Porta di S. Lorenzo the ground is higher, and in order to keep the level necessary for the _specus_, it is brought within the wall, and built up against the inside of it (1871). The Marcia, Tepula, and Julia, over which it is carried, as is seen at the two gates where their arcade is visible _under_ the _specus_ of the Aqua Felice, are here still under it, but _underground_ also, owing to the higher level of the ground. It passes over the Porta di S. Lorenzo to a reservoir on the north side of it, and then turns to the west by the side of the road, which it crosses upon an arch, with an inscription upon it, at a short distance within that gate (81). The principal termination of it is at the Fountain of the Termini (called of Moses,) 71. Behind the fountain is a reservoir after the old fashion, which is illustrated by a plan and section (704*). The celebrated Fountain of the Triton (1196), in the Piazza Barberini, is also supplied by this aqueduct, as well as all the upper terraces upon the hills. The lower range, on the Campus Martius, is chiefly supplied by the Virgo. Another branch goes from the reservoir at the Porta Maggiore along the bank on which the Arches of Nero are carried, to the Lateran, where the fountains are supplied by this water. The old aqueduct was used according to the custom of the time, and there is a cascade _specus_ from the level of the Marcia to that of the Appia (shewn in 541).

The _specus_ of each of these old aqueducts was used to carry the metal pipes of the Aqua Felice, when it was convenient to do so (1295*), as has been previously mentioned.

THE AQUA MARCIA PIA was made by a Company between 1860 and 1870, and has been mentioned under the head of the Marcia (a part of it is shewn in 1553).

THE AQUEDUCTS.

ANIO NOVUS.—THE RIVER ANIO.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTO-ENGRAVINGS.

PLATE I.

ANCIENT QUARRY OF THE KINGS.]

Source of the Aqua Appia, in a very ancient Stone-quarry of the time of the Kings, in the meadows on the bank of the river Anio, formerly called the meadows of Lucullus. They are not far from Lunghezza, the site of the ancient city of Collatium. This cave has two springs of water in it, and the two streams meet at the mouth of the cave in a channel, which is at first open at the top, and crosses the low meadow with the appearance of a ditch only, to a central reservoir, also in a cave, from which the tunnel _specus_ begins that runs on, into and through Rome. Three streams meet at the same central reservoir, and their united water goes through the _specus_. Each _specus_ can be traced by the line of bushes in the meadows, each bush being over one of the wells; these descend at regular intervals into the _specus_. These wells are also called respirators or ventilators, as they give air to the current of water, or as the people say, enable it to breathe. This cave is easily overlooked, and any person passing on the higher ground over it, is almost sure not to see it. It is scarcely visible until close to it. The ancient quarry from which it comes is earlier than others in the neighbourhood. The celebrated Caves of Cervaro are also ancient quarries; they are about a mile from this point, and although very early, are not quite so early as this, which is more distant from the river Anio. It seems probable that this was one of the quarries for the city of Collatium, before the time of Servius Tullius.

PLATE II.

ANCIENT QUARRY OF THE KINGS.]

SOURCE OF ANOTHER SPRING OF THE AQUA APPIA, in another ancient stone quarry on the bank of the river Anio. This is one of a fine series of ancient quarries, now caves, about a mile higher up the river than the Caves of Cervaro. These are believed to have been the quarries from which the large blocks of tufa for the walls of the Kings of Rome were taken, especially the great wall of Servius Tullius, which was a mile long, fifty feet high, and in some parts twelve feet thick, and which would require an enormous quantity of stone. This was probably floated down the Anio on wooden rafts, which served for timber also. The pool at the source of this spring appears as if it came from the water dripping through the rock above, which serves for a roof; but the old shepherds, who have watched it for years, say that the water never fails, and that it is a natural spring, although the quantity of stone refuse thrown into it makes it impossible to see exactly where it rises. These caves are extremely picturesque, more so even than the Caves of Cervaro, though these are the favourite resort of the German artists in their annual festival.

PLATE III.

1. THE AQUEDUCTS ABOVE SUBIACO.

2. RIVER ANIO, THE UPPER LOCHS.

—— THE THIRD LOCH AND THE BRIDGE.

RIVER ANIO THE UPPER LOCHS

THE THIRD LOCH AND THE BRIDGE]

The water for the aqueducts of Rome was chiefly drawn from the river Anio, or from springs or tributary streams that fell into that river. It rises in the high mountains above Subiaco, which are generally covered with snow for the greater part of the year, and the supply of water never fails entirely, though it is not always equally abundant. It is generally a clear, bright mountain stream, coming through rocks, but it is liable to sudden and violent floods, which bring down a great deal of mud, and therefore great precautions are taken for filtering it. The latest and most important of the great aqueducts were the Claudia and Anio Novus; the latter was the most abundant of all, being in fact a branch of the river compelled to pass through Rome by clever engineering. A series of great lochs was made by building dams across the river, with cascades from one to another. There were three of these about two miles above Subiaco, and about forty-two miles from Rome. The uppermost one of them is seen in the upper part of the plate, but in the third loch, the lowest of the three (shewn in the lower part of the plate), the bed of the river is so deep, that the water is not seen. The country through which it passes is celebrated as among the most beautiful in Italy.

PLATE IV.

ANIO NOVUS, THE THIRD LOCH

ANIO NOVUS, SPECUS CUT IN THE CLIFF]

1. ANIO NOVUS, THE THIRD LOCH, as seen from below, where the dam, that formerly kept up the water and formed a great cascade, has been thrown down, and appears only as rocks in the stream; the modern bridge seen in this view is built upon the two ends of the old dam.

2. ANIO NOVUS, SPECUS. The _specus_ is here a tunnel cut in the cliff, on the side of the valley on which the town of Subiaco stands; it is six feet high, and only eighteen inches wide (an opening into it may be seen in the cliff, on the left-hand side of the view). The round tower, seen on the right, is that of the Villa Gori, about a mile above Subiaco.

PLATE V.

AQUEDUCTS ABOVE SUBIACO—ANIO NOVUS, CASTELLUM.

ANIO NOVUS, CASTELLUM

LINE OF THE SPECUS OF ANIO NOVUS

_Photogravure Dujardin, Paris_]

This is the loch below the modern bridge, which is made upon the remains of the old dam across the river, destroyed in the fourteenth century by making a hole at the bottom to let the water escape from a flood in the upper country. The force of the water once let loose soon destroyed the dam, and the large stones of which it was built are still lying as rocks in the river, and are seen in the photograph and the photo-engraving.

LINE OF THE SPECUS OF THE ANIO NOVUS. It is here carried in the cliff of the valley of the river Anio, seen on the left of the picture. Both of these views are continuations of those seen in Plate IV., and one helps to explain the other. The _specus_ continued in this way for many miles underground, in one sense, when seen from above, but not underground when seen from below. When it has to cross the mouths of the small subsidiary streams that fall into the Anio, it has to be carried over bridges or arches, at other times it is cut in the rock or cliff.

PLATE VI.

THE CLAUDIA, ANIO VETUS, AND NOVUS, AND MARCIA IN THE VALLEY OF THE ARCHES ABOVE TIVOLI.

IN THE VALLEY OF THE ARCHES, NEAR TIVOLI.]

This valley is about two miles above Tivoli, where there is a junction of another stream with the Anio, in rather a wider valley than the usual valley of the Anio only. One arch of the lofty Claudian arcade is left on the side of the valley next Tivoli, and on the top of this a medieval tower has been built, which has an extremely picturesque effect. Through the arch may be seen a small portion of the Marcian arcade, and at a few yards to the left the Anio Vetus, which there passes half-underground at the foot of the tall arcade of the Anio Novus.

PLATE VII.

ANIO NOVUS. MEDIEVAL TOWER

IN THE VALLEY OF THE ARCHES

_Photogravure Dujardin, Paris_]

TWO OTHER VIEWS OF THE RUINS OF THE ARCADES OF THE CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS, in the Valley of the Arches above Tivoli. In the foreground, the Marcian seen through the arch, and the Anio Vetus again through the arch of the Marcian. These views are celebrated for their picturesque character, as indeed is all the country about Tivoli and Subiaco.

PLATE VIII.

AQUEDUCTS AT TIVOLI. CASCADES OF THE ANIO, WITH THE ROUND TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL AT THE TOP.

TEMPLE OF THE SIBYL AND CASCADES

CASCADES OF THE ANIO]

This cascade shews the character of the country through which the aqueducts had to be carried, but the waters of the aqueducts taken out of the river Anio were necessarily confined each within its own _specus_, here in tunnels, which are carried in a zig-zag course gradually down the hill to the level of the Villa of Hadrian in the valley below.

PLATE IX.

AQUEDUCTS BELOW TIVOLI.

MARCIA ON THE VIA DI CARCIANO

MARCIA CASTELLUM. B. C. 145]

THE MARCIA, A GREAT CASTELLUM AQUÆ OR RESERVOIR ON THE VIA DI CARCIANO. This is sometimes called the “Promenade” of Carciano, being a favourite walk on the brow of the hill, from which there is a distant view of S. Peter’s at Rome. This fine reservoir (of which two sides are here shewn) is of the time that this aqueduct was made, B.C. 145. It was probably from this reservoir that a branch _specus_ descended to the Villa of Hadrian below, to which there is a bridle-road from near this point.

PLATE X.

AQUEDUCTS BELOW TIVOLI. AQUA MARCIA, RESERVOIR.

AQUA MARCIA RESERVOIR

RESERVOIR OF AQUA MARCIA INTERIOR]

This is another of the great reservoirs to receive and retain a supply of water on the edge of the hill, both as one of the many such reservoirs for the supply of water to Rome, and for the purpose of local irrigation. It consists of two large chambers, divided by an arcade, which is the usual plan, and is probably part of the original construction of B.C. 145. These reservoirs are remarkably picturesque and finely situated.

PLATE XI.

AQUEDUCTS BELOW TIVOLI. ANIO NOVUS, CASTELLUM.

ANIO NOVUS, CASTELLUM

MARCIA, CASTELLUM OF TRAJAN]

This is another of these fine reservoirs, about a mile further on; it is faced with the reticulated-work of the first century, and is part of the original work of the time of Nero.

MARCIA, CASTELLUM OF TRAJAN, who repaired the aqueducts in several places, as is recorded by inscriptions. The reticulated-work with which this is faced is very peculiar, and is believed to be unique, at least it has not been observed elsewhere.

PLATE XII.

THE CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS IN THE CAMPAGNA OF ROME, NEAR ROMA VECCHIA.

IN THE CAMPAGNA NEAR THE PISCINAE AND ROMA VECCHIA.]

This grand arcade is the most perfect part of this finest of the aqueducts, and extends for about a mile, from near the farm-house called Roma Vecchia, about four miles from Rome, to the piscinæ where the arcade becomes gradually lower as the ground rises towards the foot of the hills. The two _specus_ are clearly seen with their usual characteristics, the Claudia built of large squared stones; the Anio Novus is visible, faced with brick in most parts, but here is faced with reticulated-work. In the first part of this view are seen the ruins of one of the enormous reservoirs, or Castella Aquarum, at one of the angles which occur at each half mile along its course. The object of these very numerous reservoirs probably was two-fold, one for local irrigation, the other for keeping up a constant and never-failing supply for Rome, even in the hot season, when many springs cease to flow.

PLATE XIII.

NEAR PORTA FURBA

UNDER THE TOR FISCALE MARCIA & CLAUDIA

_Photogravure Dujardin, Paris_]

THE MARCIA, TEPULA and JULIA passing under one of the arches of the CLAUDIA and ANIO NOVUS, now under the TOR FISCALE. A medieval tower built upon the celebrated crossing of the aqueducts, where seven aqueducts crossed each other at different levels. The Anio Vetus passes under it just underground, and the AQUA FELICE by the side of it. The _specus_ of the Aqua Marcia, built as usual of squared stone, is seen upon the arch that carried it; the others are concealed by a modern wall, but can be traced passing under the stone arch of the Claudian. The other view in the upper part of the plate shews another crossing, at one of the angles made to break the force of the water. The Marcian and the Claudian arcades running parallel to each other at a short distance only, the angle of this goes across the intervening space, and then changes sides for a time. The road which here runs between the two arcades passes under the arches at both ends of this junction, near the Porta Furba, which is seen in the distance. The character of the brickwork of the arch in the foreground indicates the time of Trajan, with later repairs, which were made at all periods in this arcade.

PLATE XIV.

MARCIA AT PORTA TIBURTINA

CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS AT ANGLE OF THE SESSORIUM]

The upper view represents the stone _specus_ of the Aqua Marcia at the PORTA TIBURTINA, now of S. Lorenzo, just within the gate, and in the wall on the southern side, with an opening by the side of it, through which a man can now walk into the _specus_ and along it. To the right of this, still in the wall, is a Castellum of the Aqua Felice, which is here, as at the Porta Maggiore, above the Marcia, Tepula and Julia, and below the Claudia and Anio Novus.

In the lower view is the Claudia and Anio Novus, at the north-east angle of the gardens of the Sessorian Palace (now of S. Croce in Gerusalemme). One of the stone piers of the Aqua Claudia is seen just within the projection of the tower at the angle, which is an addition of a later period. Within this portion of the City wall is a great Castellum Aquæ, extending from the corner to the tower, through which the aqueducts entered Rome. The interior of the tower is a piscina, which is shewn in another plate.

PLATE XV.

AQUEDUCTS AT THE PORTA MAGGIORE. THE MARCIA, TEPULA, AND JULIA ENTERING ROME.

MARCIA TEPULA JULIA ENTERING ROME

MARCIA ETC. WITHIN THE WALL.]

The upper view shews the exterior of the wall, with the three _specus_ passing through it, under an arch of the Claudian arcade, now destroyed. These are carried upon one of the piers of the Marcian arcade, built of squared stone, as the part near Rome always was. In the left lower corner of this view may be seen the Anio Vetus, half underground, as usual for this aqueduct. [This opening has been built up since the photograph was taken. The demolition of all traces of the old aqueduct as far as possible was part of the plan of the architect, who directed what were miscalled the _restorations_ of the City wall.]

The lower view represents the _specus_ of the Aqua Marcia, of squared stone, carried on one of the arches of the Marcian arcade through the wall, within it at the same point as that of the exterior shewn above.

PLATE XVI.

CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS.

ANIO NOVUS ON THE CAELIAN

CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS OVER THE PORTA MAGGIORE]

I. OVER THE PORTA MAGGIORE. In the lower view the two _specus_ are seen endways, built of squared stone, as part of the gateway. The point of view for this is nearly the same as that of Plate XV., looking south instead of west. The curious tomb of the Baker Eurysaces is seen on the left, with the stone kneading-troughs of which it is built.

II. The upper view is one corner of the great reservoir of Nero on the Cœlian, near the west end, over the Arch of Dolabella, which is seen built of well-cut stone, and perfectly plain. This has an inscription, with the names of the Consuls of the time of Augustus (A.D. 10), forty years afterwards; the arch, which was the eastern entrance into the Claudium, was used by the engineers of Nero as a substructure for the corner of the great reservoir of water for the supply of that part of Rome, which was carried at the height of thirty feet from the ground. Some small square windows are seen in the wall, which belonged to the chapel of S. Thomas _in formis_ (or in the arches), made in the remains of the arcade in the eighth century, and removed in the twelfth for a larger chapel, now in the garden of the Villa Celi-montana near to it. At the left-hand corner of this view is seen the gateway of the small monastery of the Redemptorists, with the celebrated mosaic picture over it, representing Christ between a black and a white slave, shewn in another plate of this work.

PLATE XVII.

ARCHES OF NERO WITHIN THE PORTA MAGGIORE.

WITHIN THE PORTA MAGGIORE.

AQUA MARCIA, WITHIN THE PORTA MAGG: 1871.]

This double arcade crosses the valley or inner foss of the Sessorian Palace. It was built on this plan for greater strength, as the piers are of a great height. This arcade is a continuation of the one that forms the northern wall of the Sessorian gardens, in a direct line to the west, over the Cœlian to the great reservoir over the Arch of Dolabella (shewn in the last plate). The _specus_ was carried at the top, and conveyed the water of the Claudian and Anio Novus, _united_ at _the Gemelli_ (a great twin reservoir which was close to that point, and at the north-west angle of the Sessorian gardens). The Claudian as a separate water turns at a sharp angle, and goes on to the Porta Maggiore, with the Anio Novus over it, and terminated at another tower just to the north of the place where the Marcia, Tepula, and Julia pass through the wall. But they left a considerable part of their water at that angle to be united to that of the Anio Novus at the Gemelli.

The lower view represents a fragment of the Aqua Marcia, as repaired and restored by Trajan, to the north of, and near the Porta Maggiore, in the vineyard in which the Minerva Medica stands, which has been the Exquiliæ, and afterwards the gardens of Mæcenas. This, which is parallel to the City wall, is joined to it a little further on. It was accidentally brought to light by some excavations in 1871, and is now buried again.

PLATE XVIII.

THE CLAUDIAN AND THE ANIO NOVUS, IN THE NORTH WALL OF THE SESSORIAN GARDENS, NEAR THE PORTA MAGGIORE.

CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS IN THE WALL OF THE SESSORIUM.

NYMPHAEUM OF ALEXANDER SEVERUS WHERE THE TROPHIES OF MARIUS WERE HUNG.]

The wall for about a quarter of a mile is entirely made out of this arcade, with the arches filled up, but it is built upon the old earthwork of the Sessorium, probably of the time of the Kings. The arcade extends from the angle at the north-east corner, where the aqueduct entered Rome, to the north-west angle near the Porta Maggiore, which was called Porta Sessoriana, because it entered into the Sessorian gardens.

The lower view represents the NYMPHÆUM OF ALEXANDER SEVERUS, WHERE THE TROPHIES OF MARIUS WERE HUNG.

This is identified by a representation of it on one of the coins of that Emperor. It is commonly miscalled a Castellum of the Aqua Julia, but it is on too high a level for that water, and there is no other but the Anio Novus which is high enough; this was brought along the wall to another reservoir near the Porta Tiburtina, and then by a branch arcade to this point, where there is another large reservoir on high ground, from which the water was dispersed in different directions. One branch went to supply the great reservoir called the _Sette Sale_, which supplied the Thermæ of Titus and Trajan on the Exquiliæ, and from thence went on to the Colosseum and to the Tiber. Another branch supplied the Thermæ of Constantine, on the Quirinal.

PLATE XIX.

RESERVOIR ON THE ARCHES OF NERO OVER THE ARCH OF DOLABELLA.

OVER THE ARCH OF DOLABELLA]

This Plate is almost a repetition of Plate XV., but from a different point of view, and this great reservoir is of so much importance for the history of the aqueducts in Rome, that it was necessary to shew it as clearly as possible. Without repeating what has been said before, we may add that the arch seen to the right in this view is the beginning of an arcade which led to the Colosseum. Another branch in a more direct line led to the Palatine, after passing first along the north wall of the garden of the Villa Celimontana, then by the western side of the Clivus Scauri, parallel to the church of SS. John and Paul, and at the foot of the hill passing across the road, and under the apse of the church; then turning again southwards on an arcade across the valley to the Palatine, of which there are remains; afterwards passing along the whole length of the Palatine underground, it is visible at the mouth of a tunnel on the platform opposite to the Capitoline Hill, and went across the Forum Romanum over the bridge of Caligula. The work of Nero stopped at the Arch of Dolabella, but it was taken up and completed by his successors.

Another branch went also to the left, on the west wall of the garden of the Villa Celimontana, to the valley between the Cœlian and the Aventine. There is a large reservoir for it on the cliff of the Cœlian, partly below and partly above it, and in the garden of the monks of S. Gregory. It then went on a tall arcade, over the Porta Capena and the _agger_ of Servius Tullius, to the Piscina Publica, and from thence, again crossing the valley between the two parts of the Aventine, to the Thermæ of Sura, and the private house of Trajan, and the temples on the edge of the Aventine, and to the mouth of the aqueducts in the cave under the Priorato at the Porta Trigemina, and so to the Tiber.

THE AQUEDUCTS.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAGRAMS.

PLATE I.

PLAN OF THE SOURCES OF THE APPIA (I.) AND VIRGO[232] (VI.)

AQUEDUCTS—AQUA APPIA AND VIRGO.

PLAN OF THE SPRINGS AT THE SOURCES IN THE MEADOWS OF LUCULLUS, ON THE BANK OF THE RIVER ANIO, EXCAVATED IN 1868]

1. Farm-house of Cervaro.
2. —— Cervelletta.
3. —— La Rustica.
4. —— Salone.
5. Church.
6. Sources of the Aqua Appia.
7. —— Virgo.
8. —— Augusta.
9. Tombs.
10. Aqueduct of the Virgo.
11. Road of Cervaro.
12. —— La Rustica.
13. —— Prænestina (?).
14. —— Collatia.
15. Bed of the stream of the Fontanille.
16. —— of Tor Sapienza.
17. —— of Ponte Nono, the Rivus Herculaneus.
18. Direction of the Aqueduct of the Appia.
19. Stone-quarry of Collatium and Necropolis.

PLATE II.

AQUEDUCTS—AQUA APPIA, SPECUS.

IN A TOWER OF THE PORTA CAPENA, UNDER THE CŒLIAN, NOW A GARDENER’S COTTAGE, EXCAVATED IN 1868.]

THE APPIA (I.) at the PORTA CAPENA, in the eastern tower of the gate, now in the house of the gardener of the monks of S. Gregory. The _specus_ is built of large blocks of tufa, and the lower part of it cut in the tufa wall of Servius Tullius; it was distinctly visible in the excavations of 1870, when this drawing was made. The line of the aqueduct upon the short _agger_ between the Cœlian and the Aventine was also visible for several yards, and in three different places, where pits were dug fifteen feet deep, the last was where a branch was carried into the Piscina Publica. The middle pit was in waste land on the western side of the present south road through the gate of S. Sebastian, or the modern line of the Porta Appia. It was to this pit that his holiness Pius IX. was taken to see it by the Cavaliere Guidi, and he said there was no denying that this was part of the wall of Servius Tullius, but he was surprised that his Roman friends had not discovered this. The greater part of the pits that he opened might have been left open, if it had not been for the prejudices of the subordinate officers of the Government. The particular pit in question was in waste ground by the side of the road, and might have been left open without any inconvenience.

PLATE III.

AQUEDUCTS—AQUA APPIA, SPECUS.

IN A STONE QUARRY UNDER S. SABBA, ON THE AVENTINE, WHERE SEVEN BRANCHES OF LATER AQUEDUCTS CAST THEIR SURPLUS WATER INTO THE APPIA, EXCAVATED IN 1868.]

The Appia (I.) under S. Sabba, in an old subterranean stone quarry. Several branches of other and later aqueducts here cast their surplus water into the _specus_ of the Appia, the earliest and the lowest (as shewn in the plan). The _specus_ is also visible in several places, filled up to one-third of its depth by the deposit of clay left by the water, which comes from swampy meadows on the bank of the river Anio, in which the soil is clay, upon tufa rock, called the “Meadows of Lucullus.”

Over the plan in this plate are two sections of the _specus_; in the one to the right the clay deposit left by the water is shewn, in the one to the left a small pipe coming into the _specus_, probably part of the system of irrigation, which was one great use of the aqueducts; the green lines winding through the quarry represent the lines of the various streams of water coming at different levels, sometimes with a very rapid descent, and all falling into the old deep _specus_ of the Appia, before that was carried across the last road that it had to pass. In this instance it was probably carried under the road, and not over the arch of the gate. At this point four roads meet, which is almost a certain indication of the site of a gate. In most cases the _specus_ was carried over the gate, but here the level seems too low, unless the old foss-way has been filled up even more than the usual fifteen feet. The _specus_ is visible again in another subterranean stone quarry under S. Prisca, in the same large vineyard formerly of the Jesuits, now of Prince Torlonia, in which, at a higher level, are also the remains of the Wall of the Latins on the Aventine, and of the Thermæ of Sura and the private house of Trajan. Another aqueduct passed over this to supply the Thermæ; this is on a very high level, and was carried on a tall arcade across the valley, from the Cœlian to the Aventine, passing over the Porta Capena and on the old _agger_. There are remains of the tall brick piers in several places, and of the arcade and _specus_ on the hill near S. Prisca, visible from the Palatine.

PLATE IV.

AQUEDUCTS—AQUA APPIA, MOUTH.

IN A CAVE OF THE AVENTINE, UNDER S. ALEXIO, AT THE PORTA TRIGEMINA, NEAR THE MARMORATA, EXCAVATED IN 1868.]

Mouth of the Appia (I.), in a cave under the Priorato or Priory of the knights of Malta on the Aventine, near the Marmorata and the Porta Trigemina. At the back of the cave, and connected with it by a natural tunnel, is a large reservoir of water in the heart of the hill, supplied by a natural spring, which was added to the water brought by the aqueduct for distribution. The latter part of this cave, behind the part here shewn, is under the garden of the monastery of S. Alessio, and the cave belonged to those monks. A plan and section of it is given in another plate. In the inner part of the cave is the natural spring, so that it is always knee-deep in water. This seems a likely place to have driven cattle into for concealment; there is no other natural cave under the Aventine, and this is close to the Porta Trigemina. The idea that there was a cave near the Forum Boarium seems to have arisen from a misunderstanding as to the exact site of the Porta Trigemina, which was supposed to be close to that Forum, instead of being a quarter of a mile from it, and close to the Sublician, or wooden bridge, where some remains of it have been found. The _specus_ of the Aqua Appia leads directly into this cave, and other aqueducts also meet there. The surplus water of the Trajan, far above this level, descends into it by a vertical pipe of terra cotta. Piranesi, in the last century, recognised the cave as the mouth of the Aqua Appia, and gives one of his admirable etchings of this part of the Aventine, with the cave at its foot. He was in advance of his time, but a great deal of fresh evidence has come to light since that period.

PLATE V.

I. AQUA APPIA.

THE AQUEDUCTS.—APPIA.

RESERVOIR IN THE GARDEN OF THE SESSORIUM, NOW OF S. CROCE, CALLED THERMÆ OF S. HELENA.

A. SECTION. B. PLAN.]

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.

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?).

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.]

The Aqua Julia at this point, which is about four miles from Rome, is just underground, and this loch and branch to supply the Villa was discovered about 1850 by Signor Moraldi, when he was making a map of the Aqua Marcia, with a view to having it brought again into use; which has since been done, but by a different line.—To save carrying it so far round as the old aqueduct was carried (in order to avoid the mouths of the many streams that run into the river Anio), the modern engineers used metal pipes in this part. Above Tivoli they built a stone _specus_ after the old fashion, as in that stone country they found it the cheapest and the best plan. They now say they regret that they did not continue the stone _specus_ over the level Campagna also, as the metal pipes are continually bursting from the force of the water. Previous to this discovery of Signor Moraldi, it was not known that there were lochs in the aqueducts, though it is obvious that when branches had to be taken from them, such an arrangement would be required. The Tepula and the Marcia are underground in this part. The Julia, being the uppermost of the three, was close to the surface. This was also the case on the side of the great _agger_ of Servius Tullius near the railway station, where the Julia only was excavated, with two cippi, on which were inscriptions stating that _the three_ aqueducts passed there.

PLATE VIII.

AQUEDUCTS AND RIVER ALMO, NEAR THE PORTA FURBA.

THE AQUEDUCTS AND RIVER ALMO, NEAR THE PORTA FURBA.

A. PLAN AT A CROSSING.

B. PLAN AND SECTION AT ANOTHER POINT.

C. PLAN AND SECTION IN THE QUARRY AT THE ALBERGO DE’ SPIRITI.

D. PLAN AND SECTION OF RESERVOIR NEAR THE SAME.]

A. Arcades of the Marcia, Tepula, and Julia; the Claudia and Anio Novus at one of the angles and crossings; and the Aqua Felice, which is carried first on one and then on the other of the old arcades. Also, there is an indication of the situation of the great tumulus and tomb called “Monte del Grano,” in which the fine sarcophagus was found which is now in the Capitoline Museum, and was long supposed to be that of the Emperor Alexander Severus and his wife Mammea. This is given to indicate the situation. The river Almo is seen crossing the two arcades near the gate or arch over the road.

B. The same two arcades, at about a quarter of a mile nearer to Rome, or just two miles, with the river Almo winding between them; and a Section to shew the elevations.

C. Plan of the junction of the old Via Latina, with the modern road to Albano, at two miles from Rome, shewing the situation of the aqueduct in a stone-quarry at the back of the “Albergo dei Spiriti,” near C.

D. Plan and Section of the reservoir, at two miles from Rome, near the Porta Furba.

PLATE IX.

THE SEVEN AQUEDUCTS AT THE TOR FISCALE.

THE AQUEDUCTS AT THE TOR FISCALE.

A. SECTION.

B. PLAN, SHEWING THE CROSSING OF FIVE AQUEDUCTS IN THE TOWER, AND TWO UNDER IT.]

At this important junction and crossing of the aqueducts the Marcian arcade originally made one of the usual angles. The more lofty arcade of the Claudia and Anio Novus was then carried over it, with the Anio Vetus half underground, nearly on the same line; and the modern aqueduct, called the Felice, is here carried against and partly upon the old Marcian arcade. The medieval architects took advantage of this crossing to build a tall tower upon it; the five conduits or _specus_ can be seen inside the tower, and half arches abutting against it in a very picturesque manner, all of which are shewn in the Section in the upper part of the plate, and in the Photo engravings.

The Plan in the lower part of the plate shews the arrangement, and also the small river Almo, now called the Marrana, winding round it.

PLATE X.

THE AQUEDUCTS.—CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS.

ENTERING ROME IN A TOWER OF THE SESSORIUM.

A. SECTION.

B. PLAN, OF THE PISCINA MADE IN THE TOWER.]

Piscina of the Anio Novus at the entrance into Rome, in a tower of the Wall of Aurelian, and of the gardens of the Sessorian Palace, now of S. Croce in Gerusalemme.

A. The Section.

B. The Plan.

By a singular coincidence it happens that the inner wall of this tower has been destroyed, so that the whole of the interior is displayed, and shews exactly what an ancient piscina was. The water comes into the right-hand upper chamber, it then descends into the chamber under it, as is marked by the arrow in the drawing, it then passes through small holes in the partition wall into the left-hand lower chamber. [The artist has represented a _large_ opening through this wall, but this must be a mistake, owing to the wall being partially broken away; there are always _small_ holes through this partition wall.] The space between this tower and the corner of the wall in the Sessorian gardens, where it turns sharp to the west, was a large reservoir, or Castellum Aquæ, for the Claudia; it is not at a sufficiently high level for the Anio Novus.

PLATE XI.

THE AQUEDUCTS AT THE PORTA MAGGIORE AND THE PORTA TIBURTINA.

THE AQUEDUCTS.—AT THE PORTA TIBURTINA.

A. MARCIA, TEPULA, JULIA, AND FELICE.

THE AQUEDUCTS.—AT THE PORTA MAGGIORE.

B. MARCIA, TEPULA, JULIA, AND FELICE; CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS CROSSING OVER THEM.]

In the lower part of this plate is seen the Wall of Rome on the northern side of the Porta Maggiore, with the tomb of Eurysaces the Baker in front of it. The wall here makes an angle, and the section of it is shewn just beyond the gate; the Claudia and Anio Novus (which here passed over it) are shewn in section, the _specus_ of the Claudia being nearly square, that of the Anio Novus over it considerably higher in its proportions. The Marcia, Tepula, and Julia here pass under these at a right angle, and through the wall, which in that part is made by filling up the arches of the Claudian arcade of the aqueducts. A pier of the Marcian arcade is shewn in the lower part of the section. The Aqua Felice is carried between the Julia and the Claudia, and it continues on to the Porta Tiburtina, always at the same level, over the Marcian arcade, but between the gates it passes through higher ground, and is therefore in that part underground, but emerges on arches at the two ends, near the gates, as Frontinus mentions. The Claudian arcade terminated at a tower in an angle of the wall, just to the north of this view, and with a great reservoir within the wall. In the upper view the Porta Tiburtina is shewn, with the Marcia, Tepula, and Julia passing over it. The different levels of the old road and the new one are also shewn. The arch on which the aqueducts are carried has inscriptions upon it of the time of Augustus, A.D. 10, and is of his time; it is buried up to the springing of the actual arch; the jambs are entirely buried by the filling up of the foss-way, but the two arches of the time of Honorius, A.D. 405, are tall arches, standing on the ground at its present level; the raising of the level of the road, therefore, took place between A.D. 10 and A.D. 400.

PLATE XII.

ANIO NOVUS—NYMPHÆUM, WHERE THE TROPHIES OF MARIUS WERE HUNG.

A. SECTION OF THE TOWER AND ARCHES.

B, C. PLANS OF THE THREE STORIES.

THE AQUEDUCTS.—ANIO NOVUS.

AT THE NYMPHÆUM, WHERE THE TROPHIES OF MARIUS WERE HUNG.

A. SECTION OF THE TOWER AND ARCHES.

B. C. PLANS OF THE THREE STORIES.]

This Nymphæum is represented on one of the coins of Alexander Severus, and belonged to the great Thermæ of the third century on the eastern side of Rome, which, having been long in progress, are called by the names of different emperors of that period. The ground had been originally the Exquiliæ, the great burial-ground of the time of the Republic, afterwards the garden of Mæcenas; it is full of aqueducts of different periods, and at different levels, and there are several reservoirs for them, some underground, others at a higher level. This one was formerly considered to have belonged to the Aqua Julia, but on taking the levels it appears that the only water in Rome that is high enough to reach it is the Anio Novus, the highest of the aqueducts, and the water has been brought from a reservoir belonging to that, near the Porta Tiburtina; having just been brought along the high bank on which the Wall of Rome stands, part of an arcade of an aqueduct leading to it remains, coming from that gate. Near the Porta Maggiore there are also remains of an aqueduct at a very high level, coming from the Anio Novus, but the construction of the arcade is of the third century. It is now part of the wall.

This Nymphæum or reservoir at that high level has several branches leading from it, one of which goes in the direction of the other great reservoir on the Esquiline Hill, called the _Sette Sale_, and this, from the high level, probably supplied the Sette Sale and the Thermæ of Titus and Trajan.

PLATE XIII.

RIVER ALMO. DIVISION INTO TWO BRANCHES, NOW A LOCH OF THE MARRANA.

RIVER ALMO, NOW THE MARRANA.

DIVISION INTO TWO BRANCHES, NOW AT A LOCH OF THE MARRANA. PLAN, VIEW, AND SECTION.]

This loch is situated about half-way between the Tor Fiscale and the farm-house called Roma Vecchia, rather more than three miles from Rome, and a quarter of a mile to the left of the Via Appia Nova. The Almo is a mountain stream coming down from the Alban hills, often flooded in the rainy season and dry in the hot season, with a very deep bed called a foss. This bed was convenient for the engineers who made the mill-stream, now called the Marrana, in the twelfth century, and they used it when the ground was high and the foss deep; but in other parts, when the ground was low and liable to be flooded, they banked up the stream, or made a new channel for it on a raised bank, for sometimes half a mile together, then joined the old winding bed again for perhaps another mile. At the point where the division into two streams takes place, one branch is banked up and comes through Rome, the other remains in the deep bed and receives the surplus water from the loch, made at this point, and this second stream runs through the valley of the Caffarella, and has its mouth near the church of S. Paul f. m. The Plate shews the plan at the division, one section of the loch, and the lasher. The second stream has no other beginning than this division, and the deep bed or foss can be traced in its winding course by the side of the cross-road from the Via Appia Nova to S. Urban, at the head of the valley of the Caffarella.

PLATE XIV.

RIVER ALMO, NOW THE MARRANA.

ENTRANCE INTO ROME UNDER THE PORTA METRONIA.

RIVER ALMO, NOW THE MARRANA.

ENTRANCE INTO ROME UNDER THE PORTA METRONIA.

A. ELEVATION, WITH THE BRIDGE UNDER THE GATE.

B. PLAN AND SECTIONS—A. B. THE BRIDGE; C. D. SECTIONS.

C. PLAN OF THE GROUND WITHOUT AND WITHIN THE WALL OF ROME.]

A. Elevation, with the bridge under the gate.

The lower bridge under the modern road is of the time of the Early Empire, and can be seen, though not without some little difficulty, by climbing upon the bank of the mill-stream, which now runs in the deep winding foss of the Almo, and makes a bend under the gate, as is seen in the small plan in the centre, marked M.

B. Plan and sections, longitudinal and transverse, of the bridge, with the gate upon it. The longitudinal section A B has the line of it, marked on the small plan M; the transverse section is marked C D.

C. Map of the corner of the Wall of Rome, shewing the great bend that it makes to the south at this point. The wall is indicated by the towers at short intervals, and the stream of water by its winding course. The roads within the walls, and the road on the outside under the wall are also indicated. The house shewn in the lower part, to the left in the plan, is believed to be on the site of that of Crassipes, the father-in-law of Cicero, near the Via Appia. The stream after passing the road turns sharply round to the north, under the cliffs of the Aventine, and runs through the Vallis Murcia, in which the Circus Maximus was made, first having passed by the Piscina Publica, under that part of the Aventine on which the Reformatory of S. Balbina now stands.

PLATE XV.

RIVER ALMO. MOUTH IN THE PULCHRUM LITTUS. VIEW.

RIVER ALMO, NOW THE MARRANA.

MOUTH IN THE PULCHRUM LITTUS. VIEW.]

This is the mouth within the Walls of Rome from the earliest period, and it was here in all probability that the priests washed the blood off their knives, and not at S. Paul’s, a mile outside the town. The remains of the early wall of tufa in this part are well shewn in the drawing, and the mouth for the stream to pass through, left when the wall was built. This was part of the second Wall of Rome, built when the peace was made between the Romans and the Sabines. The construction of that period, of the usual large blocks of tufa with very fine joints, is clearly shewn in the drawing.

PLATE XVI.

RIVER ALMO. MOUTH IN THE PULCHRUM LITTUS. PLAN.

RIVER ALMO, NOW THE MARRANA.

PLAN OF THE MOUTH IN THE PULCHRUM LITTUS.]

In the Plan the old arrangement is clearly shewn, and the division of the stream into two branches, one of which now turns a mill-wheel, and is probably part of the alterations in the twelfth century,—this is the straight line. The other is probably the original end of the stream, or at least of this branch of it. The frequent change of the sand-banks by the great floods of the Tiber sometimes obscure this part. Advantage was taken of the water being low in the Tiber to get this plan and the view in Plate XV.

THE AQUEDUCTS.

PLATE XVII.

SOURCES OF THE AQUA APPIA.

SOURCES OF THE AQUA APPIA.]