Sunday, August 23

Rome: Aqueducts




509-600 BC; Rome was expanding, fast. Population numbers had exploded and food supplies were running low. There was a huge threat that they would be wiped out due to to starvation. The main problem: Water was scarce. Lakes and fresh water was not abundant in Rome, and when they were, it proved a difficult task to ship around.


Then, the geniuses of Rome had a spark: What if they had long trenches connecting the cities together? Carrying the water along it. After many assumed trials and errors, the Romans had invented the aqueduct: trenches on brick stilts (to keep dust and foul play out of the water) that would not only ship clean spring-water to all different roman cities but also collect rainwater.


This is how they were laid out:




Another startling step forward for a civilisation so far back in time.


Next will be Egyptian tombs: Who got what.

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Comparison

Although it may not seem it, Roman and Egyptian architecture have always been influencing each other. From obelisks to statues, they have always had some input to the others designing strategies, even though they were miles apart!

Egyptian statue

Egyptian statue
This statue can be found in the Roman Vatican. It is an Egyptian god in Roman robes.