Complete Works of Frontinus

by Frontinus

  [10] Idem cum iam tertio consul fuisset, C. Sentio Q. Lucretio consulibus, post annum tertium decimum quam Iuliam deduxerat, Virginem quoque in agro Lucullano collectam Romam perduxit. Dies quo primum in urbe responderit, quintus idus Iunias invenitur. Virgo appellata est, quod quaerentibus aquam militibus puella virguncula venas quasdam monstravit, quas secuti qui foderant, ingentem aquae modum invenerunt. Aedicula fonti apposita hanc originem pictura ostendit. Concipitur Virgo Via Collatina ad miliarium octavum palustribus locis, signino circumiecto continendarum scaturiginum causa. Adiuvatur et compluribus aliis adquisitionibus. Venit per longitudinem passuum decem quattuor milium centum quinque: ex eo rivo subterraneo passuum decem duum milium octingentorum sexaginta quinque, supra terram per passus mille ducentos quadraginta: ex eo substructione rivorum locis compluribus passuum quingentorum quadraginta, opere arcuato passuum septingentorum. Adquisitionum ductus rivi subterranei efficiunt passus mille quadringentos quinque.

  [10] The same man, after his own third consulship, in the consulship of Gaius Sentius and Quintus Lucretius, twelve years after he had constructed the Julian aqueduct, also brought Virgo to Rome, taking it from the estate of Lucullus. We learn that June 9 was the day that it first began to flow in the City. It was called Virgo, because a young girl pointed out certain springs to some soldiers hunting for water, and when they followed these up and dug, they found a copious supply. A small temple, situated near the spring, contains a painting which illustrates this origin of the aqueduct. The intake of Virgo is on the Collatian Way at the eighth milestone, in a marshy spot, surrounded by a concrete enclosure for the purpose of confining the gushing waters. Its volume is augmented by several tributaries. Its length is 14,105 paces. For 12,865 paces of this distance it is carried in an underground channel, for 1,240 paces above ground. Of these 1,240 paces, it is carried for 540 paces on substructures at various points, and for 700 paces on arches. The underground conduits of the tributaries measure 1,405 paces.

  [11] Quae ratio moverit Augustum, providentissimum principem, perducendi Alsietinam aquam, quae vocatur Augusta, non satis perspicio, nullius gratiae, immo etiam parum salubrem ideoque nusquam in usus populi fluentem; nisi forte cum opus Naumachiae adgrederetur, ne quid salubrioribus aquis detraheret, hanc proprio opere perduxit et quod Naumachiae coeperat superesse, hortis adiacentibus et privatorum usibus ad inrigandum concessit. Solet tamen ex ea in Transtiberina regione, quotiens pontes reficiuntur et a citeriore ripa aquae cessant, ex necessitate in subsidium publicorum salientium dari. Concipitur ex lacu Alsietino Via Claudia miliario quarto decimo deverticulo dextrorsus passuum sex milium quingentorum. Ductus eius efficit longitudinem passuum viginti duum milium centum septuaginta duorum, opere arcuato passuum trecentorum quinquaginta octo.

  [11] I fail to see what motive induced Augustus, a most sagacious sovereign, to bring in the Alsietinian water, also called Augusta. For this has nothing to commend it, — is in fact positively unwholesome, and for that reason is nowhere delivered for consumption by the people. It may have been that when Augustus began the construction of his Naumachia, he brought this water in a special conduit, in order not to encroach on the existing supply of wholesome water, and then granted the surplus of the Naumachia to the adjacent gardens and to private users for irrigation. It is customary, however, in the district across the Tiber, in an emergency, whenever the bridges are undergoing repairs and the water supply is cut off from this side of the river, to draw from Alsietina to maintain the flow of the public fountains. Its source is the Alsietinian Lake, at the fourteenth milestone, on the Claudian Way, on a cross-road, six miles and a half to the right. Its conduit has a length of 22,172 paces, with 358 paces on arches.

  [12] Idem Augustus in supplementum Marciae, quotiens siccitates egerent auxilio, aliam aquam eiusdem bonitatis opere subterraneo perduxit usque ad Marciae rivum, quae ab inventore appellatur Augusta. Nascitur ultra fontem Marciae. Cuius ductus donec Marciae accedat, efficit passus octingentos.

  [12] To supplement Marcia, whenever dry seasons required an additional supply, Augustus also, by an underground channel, brought to the conduit of Marcia another water of the same excellent quality, called Augusta from the name of its donor. Its source is beyond the springs of Marcia; its conduit, up to its junction with Marcia, measures 800 paces.

  [13] Post hos C. Caesar, qui Tiberio successit, cum parum et publicis usibus et privatis voluptatibus septem ductus aquarum sufficere viderentur, altero imperii sui anno, M. Aquila Iuliano P. Nonio Asprenate cos., anno urbis conditae septingentesimo nonagesimo uno duos ductus incohavit. Quod opus Claudius magnificentissime consummavit dedicavitque Sulla et Titiano consulibus, anno post urbem conditam octingentesimo tertio Kalendis Augustis. Alteri nomen, quae ex fontibus Caerulo et Curtio perducebatur, Claudiae datum. Haec bonitatis proximae est Marciae. Altera, quoniam duae Anionis in urbem aquae fluere coeperant, ut facilius appellationibus dinoscerentur, Anio Novus vocitari coepit; priori Anioni cognomen Veteris adiectum.

  [13] After these aqueducts, Gaius Caesar, the successor of Tiberius, in the second year of his reign, in the consulate of Marcus Aquila Julianus and Publius Nonius Asprenas, in the year 791 after the founding of the City, began two others, inasmuch as the seven then existing seemed insufficient to meet both the public needs and the luxurious private demands of the day. These works Claudius completed on the most magnificent scale, and dedicated in the consulship of Sulla and Titianus, on the 1st of August in the year 803 after the founding of the City. To the one water, which had its sources in the Caerulean and Curtian springs, was given the name Claudia. This is next to Marcia in excellence. The second began to be designated as New Anio, in order the more readily to distinguish by title the two Anios that had now begun to flow to the City. To the former Anio the name of “Old” was added.

  [14] Claudia concipitur Via Sublacensi ad miliarium tricesimum octavum deverticulo sinistrorsus intra passus trecentos ex fontibus duobus amplissimis et speciosis, Caeruleo qui a similitudine appellatus est, et Curtio. Accipit et eum fontem qui vocatur Albudinus, tantae bonitatis, ut Marciae quoque adiutorio quotiens opus est ita sufficiat, ut adiectione sui nihil ex qualitate eius mutet. Augustae fons, quia Marciam sibi sufficere apparebat, in Claudiam derivatus est, manente nihilo minus praesidiario in Marciam, ut ita demum Claudiam aquam adiuvaret Augusta, si eam ductus Marciae non caperet. Claudiae ductus habet longitudinem passuum quadraginta sex milium quadringentorum sex: ex eo rivo subterraneo passuum triginta sex milium ducentorum triginta, opere supra terram passuum decem milium centum septuaginta sex: ex eo opere arcuato in superiori parte pluribus locis passuum trium milium septuaginta sex, et prope urbem a septimo miliario substructione rivorum per passus sexcentos novem, opere arcuato passuum sex milium quadringentorum nonaginta et unius.

  [14] The intake of Claudia is at the thirty-eighth milestone on the Sublacensian Way, on a cross-road, less than three hundred paces to the left. The water comes from two very large and beautiful springs, the Caerulean, so designated from its appearance, and the Curtian. Claudia also receives the spring which is called Albudinus, which is of such excellence that, when Marcia, too, needs supplementing, this water answers the purpose so admirably that by its addition there is no change in Marcia’s quality. The spring of Augusta was turned into Claudia, because it was plainly evident that Marcia was of sufficient volume by itself. But Augusta remained, nevertheless, a reserve supply to Marcia, the understanding being that Augusta should run into Claudia only when the conduit of Marcia would not carry it. Claudia’s conduit has a length of 46,606 paces, of which 36,230 are in a subterranean channel, 10,176 on structures above ground; of these last there are at various points in the upper reaches 3,076 paces on arches; and near the City, beginning at the seventh milestone, 609 paces on substructures and 6,491 on arches.

  [15] Anio Novus Via Sublacensi ad miliarium quadragesimum secundum in Simbruino excipitur ex flumine, quod cum terras cultas circa se habeat soli pinguis et inde ripas solutiores, etiam sine pluviarum iniuria limosum et turbulentum flu
it. Ideoque a faucibus ductus interposita est piscina limaria, ubi inter amnem et specum consisteret et liquaretur aqua. Sic quoque quotiens imbres superveniunt, turbida pervenit in urbem. Iungitur ei rivus Herculaneus oriens eadem via ad miliarium tricesimum octavum e regione fontium Claudiae trans flumen viamque. Natura est purissimus, sed mixtus gratiam splendoris sui amittit. Ductus Anionis Novi efficit passuum quinquaginta octo milia septingentos: ex eo rivo subterraneo passuum quadraginta novem milia trecentos, opere supra terram passuum novem milia quadringentos: ex eo substructionibus aut opere arcuato superiore parte pluribus locis passuum duo milia trecentos, et propius urbem a septimo miliario substructione rivorum passus sexcentos novem, opere arcuato passuum sex milia quadringentos nonaginta unum. Hi sunt arcus altissimi, sublevati in quibusdam locis pedes centum novem.

  [15] The intake of New Anio is at the forty-second milestone on the Sublacensian Way, in the district of Simbruvium. The water is taken from the river, which, even without the effect of rainstorms, is muddy and discoloured, because it has rich and cultivated fields adjoining it, and in consequence loose banks. For this reason, a settling reservoir was put in beyond the inlet of the aqueduct, in order that the water might settle there and clarify itself, between the river and the conduit. But even despite this precaution, the water reaches the City in a discoloured condition whenever there are rains. It is joined by the Herculanean brook, which has its source on the same Way, at the thirty-eighth milestone, opposite the springs of Claudia, beyond the river and the highway. This is naturally very clear, but loses the charm of its purity by admixture with New Anio. The conduit of New Anio measures 58,700 paces, of which 49,300 are in an underground channel, 9,400 paces above ground on masonry; of these, at various points in the upper reaches are 2,300 paces on substructures or arches; while nearer the City, beginning at the seventh milestone, are 609 paces on substructures, 6,491 paces on arches. These are the highest arches, rising at certain points to 109 feet.

  [16] Tot aquarum tam multis necessariis molibus pyramidas videlicet otiosas compares aut cetera inertia sed fama celebrata opera Graecorum.

  [16] With such an array of indispensable structures carrying so many waters, compare, if you will, the idle Pyramids or the useless, though famous, works of the Greeks!

  [17] Non alienum mihi visum est, longitudines quoque rivorum cuiusque ductus etiam per species operum complecti. Nam cum maxima huius officii pars in tutela eorum sit, scire praepositum oportet, quae maiora impendia exigant. Nostrae quidem sollicitudini non suffecit, singula oculis subiecisse; formas quoque ductuum facere curavimus, ex quibus apparet ubi valles quantaeque, ubi flumina traicerentur, ubi montium lateribus specus applicitae maiorem adsiduamque tuendi ac muniendi rivi exigant curam. Hinc illa contingit utilitas, ut rem statim veluti in conspectu habere possimus et deliberare tamquam adsistentes.

  [17] It has seemed to me not inappropriate to include also a statement of the lengths of the channels of the several aqueducts, according to the kinds of construction. For since the chief function of this office of water-commissioner lies in their upkeep, the man in charge of them ought to know which of them demand the heavier outlay. My zeal was not satisfied with submitting details to examination; I also had plans made of the aqueducts, on which it is shown where there are valleys and how great these are; where rivers are crossed; and where conduits laid on hillsides demand more particular constant care for their maintenance and repair. By this provision, one reaps the advantage of being able to have the works before one’s eyes, so to speak, at a moment’s notice, and to consider them as though standing by their side.

  [18] Omnes aquae diversa in urbem libra perveniunt. Inde fluunt quaedam altioribus locis et quaedam erigi in eminentiora non possunt; nam et colles sensim propter frequentiam incendiorum excreverunt rudere. Quinque sunt quarum altitudo in omnem partem urbis adtollitur, sed ex his aliae maiore, aliae leviore pressura coguntur. Altissimus est Anio Novus, proxima Claudia, tertium locum tenet Iulia, quartum Tepula, dehinc Marcia, quae capite etiam Claudiae libram aequat. Sed veteres humiliore directura perduxerunt, sive nondum ad subtile explorata arte librandi, seu quia ex industria infra terram aquas mergebant, ne facile ab hostibus interciperentur, cum frequentia adhuc contra Italicos bella gererentur. Iam tamen quibusdam locis, sicubi ductus vetustate dilapsus est, omisso circuito subterraneo vallium brevitatis causa substructionibus arcuationibusque traiciuntur. Sextum tenet librae locum Anio Vetus, similter suffecturus etiam altioribus locis urbis, si, ubi vallium summissarumque regionum condicio exigit, substructionibus arcuationibusve erigeretur. Sequitur huius libram Virgo, deinde Appia; quae cum ex urbano agro perducerentur, non in tantum altitudinis erigi potuerunt. Omnibus humilior Alsietina est, quae Transtiberinae regioni et maxime iacentibus locis servit.

  [18] The several aqueducts reach the City at different elevations. In consequence certain ones deliver water on higher ground, while others cannot rise to the loftier points; for the hills have gradually grown higher with rubbish in consequence of frequent conflagrations. There are five whose head rises to every point in the City, but of these some are forced up with greater, others with lesser pressure. The highest is New Anio; next comes Claudia; the third place is taken by Julia; the fourth by Tepula; the last by Marcia, although at its intake this mounts even to the level of Claudia. But the ancients laid the lines of their aqueducts at a lower elevation, either because they had not yet nicely worked out the art of levelling, or because they purposely sunk their aqueducts in the ground, in order that they might not easily be cut by the enemy, since frequent wars were still waged with the Italians. But now, whenever a conduit has succumbed to old age, it is the practice to carry it in certain parts on substructures or on arches, in order to save length, abandoning the subterranean loops in the valleys. The sixth rank in height is held by Old Anio, which would likewise be capable of supplying even the higher portions of the City, if it were raised up on substructures or arches, wherever the nature of the valleys and low places demands. Its elevation is followed by that of Virgo, then by that of Appia. These, since they were brought from points near the City, could not rise to such high elevations. Lowest of all is Alsietina, which supplies the ward across the Tiber and the very lowest districts.

  [19] Ex eis sex Via Latina intra septimum miliarum contectis piscinis excipiuntur, ubi quasi respirante rivorum cursu limum deponunt. Modus quoque earum mensuris ibidem positis initur. Tres autem earum, Iulia, Marcia, Tepula quae intercepta, sicut supra demonstravimus, rivo Iuliae accesserat, nunc a piscina eiusdem Iuliae modum accipit ac proprio canali et nomine venit ( hae tres a piscinis in eosdem arcus recipiuntur. Summus in his est Iuliae, inferior Tepulae, dein Marcia. Quae ad libram Collis Viminalis sco * * *ntea fluentes ad Viminalem usque Portam deveniunt. Ibi rursus emergunt. Prius tamen pars Iuliae ad Spem Veterem excepta castellis Caelii montis diffunditur. Marcia autem partem sui post hortos Pallantianos in rivum qui vocatur Herculaneus deicit. Is per Caelium ductus, ipsius montis usibus nihil ut inferior sumministrans, finitur supra Portam Capenam.

  [19] Of these waters, six are received in covered catch-basins, this side the seventh milestone on the Latin Way. Here, taking fresh breath, so to speak, after the run, they deposit their sediment. Their volume also is determined by gauges set up at the same point. Three of these, Julia, Marcia, and Tepula, are carried by the same arches from the catch-basins onward. Tepula, which, as we have above explained, was tapped and added to the conduit of Julia, now leaves the basin of this same Julia, receives its own quota of water, and runs in its own conduit, under its own name. The topmost of these three is Julia; next below is Tepula; then Marcia. These flowing [under ground] reach the level of the Viminal Hill, and in fact even of the Viminal Gate. There they again emerge. Yet a part of Julia is first diverted at Spes Vetus, and distributed to the reservoirs of Mount Caelius. But Marcia delivers a part of its waters into the so-called Herculanean Conduit, behind the Gardens of Pallas. This conduit, carried along the Caelian, affords no service to the occupants of the hill, on account of it
s low level; it ends beyond the Porta Capena.

  [20] Anio Novus et Claudia a piscinis in altiores arcus recipiuntur ita ut superior sit Anio. Finiuntur arcus earum post hortos Pallantianos et inde in usum urbis fistulis diducuntur. Partem tamen sui Claudia prius in arcus qui vocantur Neroniani ad Spem Veterem transfert. Hi directi per Caelium montem iuxta templum Divi Claudii terminantur. Modum quem acceperunt aut circa ipsum montem aut in Palatium Aventinumque et regionem Transtiberinam dimittunt.

  [20] New Anio and Claudia are carried together from their catch-basins on lofty arches, Anio being above. Their arches end behind the Gardens of Pallas, and from that point their waters are distributed in pipes to serve the City. Yet Claudia first transfers a part of its waters near Spes Vetus to the so-called Neronian Arches. These arches pass along the Caelian Hill and end near the Temple of the Deified Claudius. Both aqueducts deliver the volume which they receive, partly about the Caelian, partly on the Palatine and Aventine, and to the ward beyond the Tiber.