Roman aqueduct

A Roman aqueduct was an engineered system for carrying water from a source to a settlement. It used gravity, channels, tunnels, and bridges to maintain a gradual descent.

Roman aqueduct bridge: A bridge structure that carried an aqueduct channel across a valley or other depression. Arches let channels cross low ground while preserving the aqueduct’s gentle downhill gradient.
Roman water supply: The network of sources and infrastructure that provided water to Roman communities. Aqueducts formed one part of a broader system of collection, storage, and delivery.
Aqua Marcia: A major aqueduct that brought high-quality water to Rome from the Anio Valley, completed in 144 BCE. Its long route and high arches illustrate the scale attainable by Rome’s water engineers.
Aqua Appia: The first aqueduct built for Rome, completed in 312 BCE and routed mostly underground. Its construction marks the start of Rome’s aqueduct-building tradition.
Roman baths: Public bathing complexes that formed a major part of Roman urban life. A dependable water supply enabled large baths to operate at urban scale.
Specus: The enclosed water channel of a Roman aqueduct. This masonry conduit carried water along the surveyed route, often underground.
Roman cistern: A reservoir that stored water in ancient Rome and other Roman settlements. Cisterns stored water near its source or destination and could buffer changes in supply.
Pont du Gard: A three-tiered Roman aqueduct bridge in southern France, built to carry water toward Nîmes. Its surviving arches make the channel-supporting structure especially legible.
Etruscan civilization: An ancient civilization of central Italy that preceded Roman dominance in the region. Etruscan urban engineering formed part of the technical world from which Rome emerged.
Roman public fountains: Public outlets that supplied drinking water in Roman settlements. Aqueducts made water available beyond private wells and household storage.

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