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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS—CLAUDIA AND ANIO-NOVUS.
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS ABOVE TIVOLI
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS AT TIVOLI
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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS BELOW TIVOLI
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS BELOW TIVOLI
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.
[Illustration: THE AQUEDUCTS. CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS ON THE VIA LATINA.
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS AT THE PORTA MAGGIORE.
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS. ARCHES OF NERO.
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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS NEAR 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.
[Illustration: AQUEDUCTS—ON ARCHES OF NERO.
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.)
[Illustration: I.
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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: V.
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.
[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.]