Aqua Julia
Encyclopedia
The Aqua Julia or Aqua Iulia is a Roman
aqueduct built in 33 BC
by Agrippa. It was repaired and expanded by Augustus
from 11
–4 BC
.
The springs of the Aqua Iulia are situated approximately a half-mile north of the abbey of Grottaferrata
. Frontinus stated that the springs were two miles to the right of the twelfth mile of the via Latina
. The length of the Aqua Iulia was reported as 15,426 1/2 paces. The water supply was estimated to be 1206 quinaria
e, or 50,043 cubic metres during a 24-hour period. Several cippi are known, all dated from the time of Augustus.
No. 302 has been found near the springs, and 281 not far south of the abbey; others (157, 156, 154, 153) have come to light at Capannelle near the seventh mile of the via Latina, before the channel begins to run above ground upon the arches of the Aqua Marcia
.
The aforementioned group has been dated back to the 14–11 BC restoration. However, another cippus has been located, north of the abbey, bearing the number 2. It dates from 14 BC
, and is, it is presumed, the result of another restoration by Augustus
, of which there is no record.
The Aqua Iulia flows above the Aqua Tepula, upon the arches of the Aqua Marcia
. The main channel leads to its terminal castellum. In addition to this, some arches still remain in the Piazza Guglielmo Pepe, which suggests that a branch ran to the Nymphaeum Alexandri. The identification of this branch as being part of the Aqua Iulia is dependent on the specus that runs upon it being only 0.289m below the bottom of the specus of the aqueduct at Porta Maggiore
, which is at 63.739 m above sea-level. However, in Livellazione (cited under Anio Novus
), the level of the bottom of the Aqua Iulia is located just outside Porta Maggiore
, and its height is given as 57.38 above sea-level. If this is accurate, the branch must have originated from the Aqua Claudia or the Anio Novus.
Frontinus states that, prior to the construction of the Aqua Claudia, the Marcia and Iulia supplied the Caelian and the Aventine (ii.76, 87). In Frontinus's own lifetime, a section of the Marcia was diverted at Spes Vetus and was delivered to the reservoirs of the former hill.
The water supply from the springs of the Aqua Iulia (not the Aqua Crabra: Frontinus, i.9) is now brought into Rome by the channel called the Marrana Mariana, which was constructed by Pope Calixtus II in 1122). However, this has been utilised for mills and for irrigation.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
aqueduct built in 33 BC
33 BC
Year 33 BC was either a common year starting on Saturday, Sunday or Monday or a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar and a leap year starting on Saturday of the Proleptic Julian calendar...
by Agrippa. It was repaired and expanded by Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
from 11
11 BC
Year 11 BC was either a common year starting on Monday or Tuesday or a leap year starting on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday of the Julian calendar and a common year starting on Saturday of the Proleptic Julian calendar...
–4 BC
4 BC
Year 4 BC was a common year starting on Tuesday or Wednesday of the Julian calendar and a common year starting on Monday of the Proleptic Julian calendar...
.
The springs of the Aqua Iulia are situated approximately a half-mile north of the abbey of Grottaferrata
Grottaferrata
Grottaferrata, Italy is a small town and comune in the province of Rome, situated on the lower slopes of the Alban Hills, 20 km south east of Rome. It is bounded by other communes, Frascati, Rocca di Papa, Marino, and Rome.-History:...
. Frontinus stated that the springs were two miles to the right of the twelfth mile of the via Latina
Via Latina
The Via Latina was a Roman road of Italy, running southeast from Rome for about 200 kilometers.It led from the Porta Latina in the Aurelian walls of Rome to the pass of Mons Algidus; it was important in the early military history of Rome...
. The length of the Aqua Iulia was reported as 15,426 1/2 paces. The water supply was estimated to be 1206 quinaria
Quinaria
A quinaria is a Roman unit of area, roughly equal to 4.2 square centimeters . Its primary use was to measure the cross-sectional area of pipes in Roman water distribution systems...
e, or 50,043 cubic metres during a 24-hour period. Several cippi are known, all dated from the time of Augustus.
No. 302 has been found near the springs, and 281 not far south of the abbey; others (157, 156, 154, 153) have come to light at Capannelle near the seventh mile of the via Latina, before the channel begins to run above ground upon the arches of the Aqua Marcia
Aqua Marcia
The Aqua Marcia was the longest of the 11 aqueducts that supplied the city of ancient Rome. The still-functioning Acqua Felice from 1586 runs on long stretches along the route of the Aqua Marcia....
.
The aforementioned group has been dated back to the 14–11 BC restoration. However, another cippus has been located, north of the abbey, bearing the number 2. It dates from 14 BC
14 BC
Year 14 BC was either a common year starting on Thursday or Friday or a leap year starting on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of the Julian calendar and a common year starting on Tuesday of the Proleptic Julian calendar...
, and is, it is presumed, the result of another restoration by Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
, of which there is no record.
The Aqua Iulia flows above the Aqua Tepula, upon the arches of the Aqua Marcia
Aqua Marcia
The Aqua Marcia was the longest of the 11 aqueducts that supplied the city of ancient Rome. The still-functioning Acqua Felice from 1586 runs on long stretches along the route of the Aqua Marcia....
. The main channel leads to its terminal castellum. In addition to this, some arches still remain in the Piazza Guglielmo Pepe, which suggests that a branch ran to the Nymphaeum Alexandri. The identification of this branch as being part of the Aqua Iulia is dependent on the specus that runs upon it being only 0.289m below the bottom of the specus of the aqueduct at Porta Maggiore
Porta Maggiore
The Porta Maggiore , or Porta Prenestina, is one of the eastern gates in the ancient but well-preserved 3rd-century Aurelian Walls of Rome....
, which is at 63.739 m above sea-level. However, in Livellazione (cited under Anio Novus
Anio Novus
Anio Novus is an aqueduct of Rome. Together with the Aqua Claudia, it was begun by emperor Caligula in 38 AD and completed in 52 AD by Claudius, who dedicated them both on August 1.-Details:...
), the level of the bottom of the Aqua Iulia is located just outside Porta Maggiore
Porta Maggiore
The Porta Maggiore , or Porta Prenestina, is one of the eastern gates in the ancient but well-preserved 3rd-century Aurelian Walls of Rome....
, and its height is given as 57.38 above sea-level. If this is accurate, the branch must have originated from the Aqua Claudia or the Anio Novus.
Frontinus states that, prior to the construction of the Aqua Claudia, the Marcia and Iulia supplied the Caelian and the Aventine (ii.76, 87). In Frontinus's own lifetime, a section of the Marcia was diverted at Spes Vetus and was delivered to the reservoirs of the former hill.
The water supply from the springs of the Aqua Iulia (not the Aqua Crabra: Frontinus, i.9) is now brought into Rome by the channel called the Marrana Mariana, which was constructed by Pope Calixtus II in 1122). However, this has been utilised for mills and for irrigation.