points in connection with them. In order to allow
of the deposit of suspended matters, piscinae, or
settling reservoirs, were constructed in a very ingenious
manner. Each had four compartments, two upper
and two lower; the water was conducted into one of
the upper compartments, and from this passed, probably
by what we should call a standing waste or overflow
pipe, into the one below; from this it passed (probably
through a grating) into the third compartment at the
same level, and thence rose through a hole in the
roof of this compartment into the fourth, which was
above it, and in which the water, of course, attained
the same level as in the first compartment, thence
passing on along the aqueduct, having deposited a
good deal of its suspended matter in the two lower
compartments of the piscinae. Arrangements were
made by which these two lower compartments should
be cleaned out from time to time. The specus
or channel itself was, of course, constructed of masonry,
generally of blocks of stone cemented together, and
it was frequently, though not, it would appear always,
lined with cement inside. It was roofed over,
and ventilating shafts were constructed at intervals;
in order to encourage the aeration of the water, irregularities
were occasionally introduced in the bed of the channel.
The water supplied by the different aqueducts was
of various qualities; thus, for instance, that of
the Alsietine, which was taken from a lake about 18
miles from Rome, was of an inferior quality, and was
chiefly used to supply a large naumachia, or reservoir,
in which imitation sea fights were performed; while,
on the other hand, the water of the Marcian was very
clear and good, and was therefore used for domestic
purposes. Frontinus gives the most accurate details
as to the measurements of the amount of water supplied
by the various aqueducts, and the quantities used for
different purposes. From these details Mr. Parker
computes the sectional area of the water at about
120 square feet, and says: “We can form
some opinion of the vast quantity if we picture to
ourselves a stream 20 ft. wide by 6 ft. deep constantly
pouring into Rome at a fall six times as rapid as
that of the river Thames.” He considers
that the amount was equivalent to about 332 million
gallons a day, or 332 gallons per head per day, assuming
the population of the city to be a million. When
we consider that we in London have only 30 gallons
a head daily, and that many other towns have less,
we get some idea of the profusion with which water
was supplied to ancient Rome. But the remains
of Roman aqueducts are not only to be found near Rome.
Almost every Roman city, whether in Italy or in the
south of France, or along the north coast of Africa,
can show the remains of its aqueduct, and almost the
only things that are to be seen on the site of Carthage
are the remains of the Roman water tanks and the ruins
of the aqueduct which supplied them. The most
beautiful aqueduct bridge in the world, on the course