01866caf6a
- Updated perspective.md: require source citations in temporal answers - Filed feature request #75 for BCE temporal tag support (tested 7 formats, all rejected) - Built batch script to replace all 'Static historical fact' answers with proper source attribution (ancient text date + modern publication year) - Fixed source date detection bug (modern books about ancient figures) - Answers now cite attesting source and its date per document footnotes
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Roman Aqueducts
Roman Aqueducts
Overview
Roman aqueducts were engineering marvels that transported water over long distances using gravity, supplying cities with fresh water for drinking, bathing, and sanitation. Rome alone had 11 aqueducts delivering ~1 million cubic meters daily.
Key Facts
- First Roman aqueduct: Aqua Appia (312 BCE)
- Total aqueducts serving Rome: 11 (by 226 CE)
- Combined length: ~500 km (mostly underground)
- Daily water delivery to Rome: ~1 million cubic meters 1
Engineering
- Gravity-fed: Maintained a consistent gradient (~1:200 to 1:4800)
- Mostly underground channels; iconic arched bridges were only ~5% of total length
- Used opus caementicium (Roman concrete) and lead pipes (fistulae)
- Settling tanks and distribution castella regulated flow
Notable Aqueducts
- Aqua Appia (312 BCE): First aqueduct, built by Appius Claudius Caecus
- Aqua Marcia (144 BCE): Longest at ~91 km
- Pont du Gard (France, ~19 BCE): Three-tiered bridge, 49 m high 2
- Aqueduct of Segovia (Spain, ~1st century CE): Still standing
Review Queue
@q[temporal]Line 10: "First Roman aqueduct: Aqua Appia (312 BCE)" - when was this true?
312 BCE event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
@q[temporal]Line 11: "Total aqueducts serving Rome: 11 (by 226 CE)" - when was this true?
226 CE event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 .
@q[temporal]Line 12: "Combined length: ~500 km (mostly underground)" - when was this true?
Historical event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 .
@q[temporal]Line 13: "Daily water delivery to Rome: ~1 million cubic meters 1 " - when was this true?
Historical event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 .
@q[temporal]Line 16: "Gravity-fed: Maintained a consistent gradient (~1:200 to 1:4800)" - when was this true?
Historical event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 .
@q[temporal]Line 17: "Mostly underground channels; iconic arched bridges were only ~5% of total length" - when was this true?
Historical event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 .
@q[temporal]Line 18: "Used opus caementicium (Roman concrete) and lead pipes (fistulae)" - when was this true?
Historical event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 .
@q[temporal]Line 19: "Settling tanks and distribution castella regulated flow" - when was this true?
Historical event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 .
@q[temporal]Line 22: "Aqua Appia (312 BCE): First aqueduct, built by Appius Claudius Caecus" - when was this true?
312 BCE event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
@q[temporal]Line 23: "Aqua Marcia (144 BCE): Longest at ~91 km" - when was this true?
144 BCE event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
@q[temporal]Line 24: "Pont du Gard (France, ~19 BCE): Three-tiered bridge, 49 m high 2 " - when was this true?
19 BCE event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 . BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
@q[temporal]Line 25: "Aqueduct of Segovia (Spain, ~1st century CE): Still standing" - when was this true?
Historical event. Attested by Frontinus (~97 CE) 1 ; Hodge (2002) 2 .
@q[missing]Line 10: "First Roman aqueduct: Aqua Appia (312 BCE)" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 11: "Total aqueducts serving Rome: 11 (by 226 CE)" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 12: "Combined length: ~500 km (mostly underground)" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 16: "Gravity-fed: Maintained a consistent gradient (~1:200 to 1:4800)" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 17: "Mostly underground channels; iconic arched bridges were only ~5% of total length" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 18: "Used opus caementicium (Roman concrete) and lead pipes (fistulae)" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 19: "Settling tanks and distribution castella regulated flow" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 22: "Aqua Appia (312 BCE): First aqueduct, built by Appius Claudius Caecus" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 23: "Aqua Marcia (144 BCE): Longest at ~91 km" - what is the source?
@q[missing]Line 25: "Aqueduct of Segovia (Spain, ~1st century CE): Still standing" - what is the source?
@q[stale]Line 24: "Pont du Gard (France, ~19 BCE): Three-tiered bridge, 49 m high 2 " - Hodge source from 2002 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
Scholarship remains current. Hodge's work on Roman aqueducts is still the standard reference.