Water and Roman Aqueducts

As a military engineer, Decimus must inspect the Aqua Augusta to determine the location of the repair. Decimus must inspect the tunnels, bridges and pipes to determine the area where a repair is needed. The inspection requires Decimus to not only look for new issues, but to also remember his previous training.

Aqueducts - an introduction

The first thing Decimus needs to remember is the answer to this question: What is an aqueduct? Take a look at the word itself - aqua = water, while duct comes from the Latin verb ducere - to take. An aqueduct was a large structure that carried water from a source to another location.

The Romans built many aqueducts to supply water for fountains, baths, latrines, agricultural irrigation and personal use in private homes. Aqueducts sometimes brought water from great distances into cities and towns. Like the Via Appia, Rome's first aqueduct was called the Aqua Appia since it was commissioned by Appius Claudius in 312 BCE. Decimus must inspect the Aqua Augusta, which provided water to eight cities around the Bay of Naples including Pompeii.

No Water? - What Does an Aqueduct Do

Decimus is inspecting a section of the aqueduct near the city of Pompeii, which is located along the coast of Italy, south of Rome. The Pompeiians have reported a limited water supply to their baths. Let's learn a bit more about aqueducts to help Decimus determine the cause of the water flow problem.

Most of Rome's aqueducts were narrow passageways for spring water that ran both under and above ground. The passageways were supported across valleys and ravines by arched structures. Tunnels were sometimes dug through mountains or pipes were used to circumvent difficult terrain. Regular maintenance of the aqueducts was necessary to make repairs and to remove gravel or debris blockages. Help Decimus determine the cause of the water flow problem to the Pompeiian baths.

Roman Baths

The commander's order is to determine the faulty issue with the aqueduct and make the repair. Decimus must then travel to Pompeii and verify that the baths have a proper supply of water.

In ancient Rome, visiting the thermae or balneae (baths) was a daily activity for Romans. The baths were similar to our modern spas and country clubs, except that they were less exclusive (all Romans, even the slaves, visited the baths regularly).

The baths were elaborate facilities with several rooms, with the three main water-based rooms being:

frigidarium - a cold room (see the illustration to the right)
tepidarium - a warm room
caldarium - a hot room

These rooms' temperatures were controlled by an underfloor heating system called a hypocaust. In addition to the bathing facilities, visitors to the baths could socialize and conduct business in the gymnasiums, libraries, and gardens.