Plate I.

Source of the Aqua Appia, in a very ancient Stone-quarry of the time of the Kings, in the meadows on the bank of the river Anio, formerly called the meadows of Lucullus. They are not far from Lunghezza, the site of the ancient city of Collatium. This cave has two springs of water in it, and the two streams meet at the mouth of the cave in a channel, which is at first open at the top, and crosses the low meadow with the appearance of a ditch only, to a central reservoir, also in a cave, from which the tunnel specus begins that runs on, into and through Rome. Three streams meet at the same central reservoir, and their united water goes through the specus. Each specus can be traced by the line of bushes in the meadows, each bush being over one of the wells; these descend at regular intervals into the specus. These wells are also called respirators or ventilators, as they give air to the current of water, or as the people say, enable it to breathe. This cave is easily overlooked, and any person passing on the higher ground over it, is almost sure not to see it. It is scarcely visible until close to it. The ancient quarry from which it comes is earlier than others in the neighbourhood. The celebrated Caves of Cervaro are also ancient quarries; they are about a mile from this point, and although very early, are not quite so early as this, which is more distant from the river Anio. It seems probable that this was one of the quarries for the city of Collatium, before the time of Servius Tullius.

Plate II.

Source of another Spring of the Aqua Appia, in another ancient stone quarry on the bank of the river Anio. This is one of a fine series of ancient quarries, now caves, about a mile higher up the river than the Caves of Cervaro. These are believed to have been the quarries from which the large blocks of tufa for the walls of the Kings of Rome were taken, especially the great wall of Servius Tullius, which was a mile long, fifty feet high, and in some parts twelve feet thick, and which would require an enormous quantity of stone. This was probably floated down the Anio on wooden rafts, which served for timber also. The pool at the source of this spring appears as if it came from the water dripping through the rock above, which serves for a roof; but the old shepherds, who have watched it for years, say that the water never fails, and that it is a natural spring, although the quantity of stone refuse thrown into it makes it impossible to see exactly where it rises. These caves are extremely picturesque, more so even than the Caves of Cervaro, though these are the favourite resort of the German artists in their annual festival.

Plate III.

1. The Aqueducts above Subiaco.

2. River Anio, the Upper Lochs.

—— the third Loch and the Bridge.

The water for the aqueducts of Rome was chiefly drawn from the river Anio, or from springs or tributary streams that fell into that river. It rises in the high mountains above Subiaco, which are generally covered with snow for the greater part of the year, and the supply of water never fails entirely, though it is not always equally abundant. It is generally a clear, bright mountain stream, coming through rocks, but it is liable to sudden and violent floods, which bring down a great deal of mud, and therefore great precautions are taken for filtering it. The latest and most important of the great aqueducts were the Claudia and Anio Novus; the latter was the most abundant of all, being in fact a branch of the river compelled to pass through Rome by clever engineering. A series of great lochs was made by building dams across the river, with cascades from one to another. There were three of these about two miles above Subiaco, and about forty-two miles from Rome. The uppermost one of them is seen in the upper part of the plate, but in the third loch, the lowest of the three (shewn in the lower part of the plate), the bed of the river is so deep, that the water is not seen. The country through which it passes is celebrated as among the most beautiful in Italy.

Plate IV.

1. Anio Novus, the third Loch, as seen from below, where the dam, that formerly kept up the water and formed a great cascade, has been thrown down, and appears only as rocks in the stream; the modern bridge seen in this view is built upon the two ends of the old dam.

2. Anio Novus, Specus. The specus is here a tunnel cut in the cliff, on the side of the valley on which the town of Subiaco stands; it is six feet high, and only eighteen inches wide (an opening into it may be seen in the cliff, on the left-hand side of the view). The round tower, seen on the right, is that of the Villa Gori, about a mile above Subiaco.

Plate V.

Aqueducts above Subiaco—Anio Novus, Castellum.

This is the loch below the modern bridge, which is made upon the remains of the old dam across the river, destroyed in the fourteenth century by making a hole at the bottom to let the water escape from a flood in the upper country. The force of the water once let loose soon destroyed the dam, and the large stones of which it was built are still lying as rocks in the river, and are seen in the photograph and the photo-engraving.

Line of the Specus of the Anio Novus. It is here carried in the cliff of the valley of the river Anio, seen on the left of the picture. Both of these views are continuations of those seen in Plate IV., and one helps to explain the other. The specus continued in this way for many miles underground, in one sense, when seen from above, but not underground when seen from below. When it has to cross the mouths of the small subsidiary streams that fall into the Anio, it has to be carried over bridges or arches, at other times it is cut in the rock or cliff.

Plate VI.

The Claudia, Anio Vetus, and Novus, and Marcia in the Valley of the Arches above Tivoli.

This valley is about two miles above Tivoli, where there is a junction of another stream with the Anio, in rather a wider valley than the usual valley of the Anio only. One arch of the lofty Claudian arcade is left on the side of the valley next Tivoli, and on the top of this a medieval tower has been built, which has an extremely picturesque effect. Through the arch may be seen a small portion of the Marcian arcade, and at a few yards to the left the Anio Vetus, which there passes half-underground at the foot of the tall arcade of the Anio Novus.

Plate VII.

Two other Views of the Ruins of the Arcades of the Claudia and Anio Novus, in the Valley of the Arches above Tivoli. In the foreground, the Marcian seen through the arch, and the Anio Vetus again through the arch of the Marcian. These views are celebrated for their picturesque character, as indeed is all the country about Tivoli and Subiaco.

Plate VIII.

Aqueducts at Tivoli. Cascades of the Anio, with the Round Temple of the Sibyl at the top.

This cascade shews the character of the country through which the aqueducts had to be carried, but the waters of the aqueducts taken out of the river Anio were necessarily confined each within its own specus, here in tunnels, which are carried in a zig-zag course gradually down the hill to the level of the Villa of Hadrian in the valley below.

Plate IX.

Aqueducts below Tivoli.

The Marcia, a great Castellum Aquæ or Reservoir on the Via di Carciano. This is sometimes called the “Promenade” of Carciano, being a favourite walk on the brow of the hill, from which there is a distant view of S. Peter’s at Rome. This fine reservoir (of which two sides are here shewn) is of the time that this aqueduct was made, B.C. 145. It was probably from this reservoir that a branch specus descended to the Villa of Hadrian below, to which there is a bridle-road from near this point.

Plate X.

Aqueducts below Tivoli. Aqua Marcia, Reservoir.

This is another of the great reservoirs to receive and retain a supply of water on the edge of the hill, both as one of the many such reservoirs for the supply of water to Rome, and for the purpose of local irrigation. It consists of two large chambers, divided by an arcade, which is the usual plan, and is probably part of the original construction of B.C. 145. These reservoirs are remarkably picturesque and finely situated.

Plate XI.

Aqueducts below Tivoli. Anio Novus, Castellum.

This is another of these fine reservoirs, about a mile further on; it is faced with the reticulated-work of the first century, and is part of the original work of the time of Nero.

Marcia, Castellum of Trajan, who repaired the aqueducts in several places, as is recorded by inscriptions. The reticulated-work with which this is faced is very peculiar, and is believed to be unique, at least it has not been observed elsewhere.

Plate XII.

The Claudia and Anio Novus in the Campagna of Rome, near Roma Vecchia.

This grand arcade is the most perfect part of this finest of the aqueducts, and extends for about a mile, from near the farm-house called Roma Vecchia, about four miles from Rome, to the piscinæ where the arcade becomes gradually lower as the ground rises towards the foot of the hills. The two specus are clearly seen with their usual characteristics, the Claudia built of large squared stones; the Anio Novus is visible, faced with brick in most parts, but here is faced with reticulated-work. In the first part of this view are seen the ruins of one of the enormous reservoirs, or Castella Aquarum, at one of the angles which occur at each half mile along its course. The object of these very numerous reservoirs probably was two-fold, one for local irrigation, the other for keeping up a constant and never-failing supply for Rome, even in the hot season, when many springs cease to flow.

Plate XIII.

The Marcia, Tepula and Julia passing under one of the arches of the Claudia and Anio Novus, now under the Tor Fiscale. A medieval tower built upon the celebrated crossing of the aqueducts, where seven aqueducts crossed each other at different levels. The Anio Vetus passes under it just underground, and the Aqua Felice by the side of it. The specus of the Aqua Marcia, built as usual of squared stone, is seen upon the arch that carried it; the others are concealed by a modern wall, but can be traced passing under the stone arch of the Claudian. The other view in the upper part of the plate shews another crossing, at one of the angles made to break the force of the water. The Marcian and the Claudian arcades running parallel to each other at a short distance only, the angle of this goes across the intervening space, and then changes sides for a time. The road which here runs between the two arcades passes under the arches at both ends of this junction, near the Porta Furba, which is seen in the distance. The character of the brickwork of the arch in the foreground indicates the time of Trajan, with later repairs, which were made at all periods in this arcade.

Plate XIV.

The upper view represents the stone specus of the Aqua Marcia at the Porta Tiburtina, now of S. Lorenzo, just within the gate, and in the wall on the southern side, with an opening by the side of it, through which a man can now walk into the specus and along it. To the right of this, still in the wall, is a Castellum of the Aqua Felice, which is here, as at the Porta Maggiore, above the Marcia, Tepula and Julia, and below the Claudia and Anio Novus.

In the lower view is the Claudia and Anio Novus, at the north-east angle of the gardens of the Sessorian Palace (now of S. Croce in Gerusalemme). One of the stone piers of the Aqua Claudia is seen just within the projection of the tower at the angle, which is an addition of a later period. Within this portion of the City wall is a great Castellum Aquæ, extending from the corner to the tower, through which the aqueducts entered Rome. The interior of the tower is a piscina, which is shewn in another plate.

Plate XV.

Aqueducts at the Porta Maggiore. The Marcia, Tepula, and Julia entering Rome.

The upper view shews the exterior of the wall, with the three specus passing through it, under an arch of the Claudian arcade, now destroyed. These are carried upon one of the piers of the Marcian arcade, built of squared stone, as the part near Rome always was. In the left lower corner of this view may be seen the Anio Vetus, half underground, as usual for this aqueduct. [This opening has been built up since the photograph was taken. The demolition of all traces of the old aqueduct as far as possible was part of the plan of the architect, who directed what were miscalled the restorations of the City wall.]

The lower view represents the specus of the Aqua Marcia, of squared stone, carried on one of the arches of the Marcian arcade through the wall, within it at the same point as that of the exterior shewn above.

Plate XVI.

Claudia and Anio Novus.

I. Over the Porta Maggiore. In the lower view the two specus are seen endways, built of squared stone, as part of the gateway. The point of view for this is nearly the same as that of Plate XV., looking south instead of west. The curious tomb of the Baker Eurysaces is seen on the left, with the stone kneading-troughs of which it is built.

II. The upper view is one corner of the great reservoir of Nero on the Cœlian, near the west end, over the Arch of Dolabella, which is seen built of well-cut stone, and perfectly plain. This has an inscription, with the names of the Consuls of the time of Augustus (A.D. 10), forty years afterwards; the arch, which was the eastern entrance into the Claudium, was used by the engineers of Nero as a substructure for the corner of the great reservoir of water for the supply of that part of Rome, which was carried at the height of thirty feet from the ground. Some small square windows are seen in the wall, which belonged to the chapel of S. Thomas in formis (or in the arches), made in the remains of the arcade in the eighth century, and removed in the twelfth for a larger chapel, now in the garden of the Villa Celi-montana near to it. At the left-hand corner of this view is seen the gateway of the small monastery of the Redemptorists, with the celebrated mosaic picture over it, representing Christ between a black and a white slave, shewn in another plate of this work.

Plate XVII.

Arches of Nero within the Porta Maggiore.

This double arcade crosses the valley or inner foss of the Sessorian Palace. It was built on this plan for greater strength, as the piers are of a great height. This arcade is a continuation of the one that forms the northern wall of the Sessorian gardens, in a direct line to the west, over the Cœlian to the great reservoir over the Arch of Dolabella (shewn in the last plate). The specus was carried at the top, and conveyed the water of the Claudian and Anio Novus, united at the Gemelli (a great twin reservoir which was close to that point, and at the north-west angle of the Sessorian gardens). The Claudian as a separate water turns at a sharp angle, and goes on to the Porta Maggiore, with the Anio Novus over it, and terminated at another tower just to the north of the place where the Marcia, Tepula, and Julia pass through the wall. But they left a considerable part of their water at that angle to be united to that of the Anio Novus at the Gemelli.

The lower view represents a fragment of the Aqua Marcia, as repaired and restored by Trajan, to the north of, and near the Porta Maggiore, in the vineyard in which the Minerva Medica stands, which has been the Exquiliæ, and afterwards the gardens of Mæcenas. This, which is parallel to the City wall, is joined to it a little further on. It was accidentally brought to light by some excavations in 1871, and is now buried again.

Plate XVIII.

The Claudian and the Anio Novus, in the North Wall of the Sessorian Gardens, near the Porta Maggiore.

The wall for about a quarter of a mile is entirely made out of this arcade, with the arches filled up, but it is built upon the old earthwork of the Sessorium, probably of the time of the Kings. The arcade extends from the angle at the north-east corner, where the aqueduct entered Rome, to the north-west angle near the Porta Maggiore, which was called Porta Sessoriana, because it entered into the Sessorian gardens.

The lower view represents the Nymphæum of Alexander Severus, where the Trophies of Marius were hung.

This is identified by a representation of it on one of the coins of that Emperor. It is commonly miscalled a Castellum of the Aqua Julia, but it is on too high a level for that water, and there is no other but the Anio Novus which is high enough; this was brought along the wall to another reservoir near the Porta Tiburtina, and then by a branch arcade to this point, where there is another large reservoir on high ground, from which the water was dispersed in different directions. One branch went to supply the great reservoir called the Sette Sale, which supplied the Thermæ of Titus and Trajan on the Exquiliæ, and from thence went on to the Colosseum and to the Tiber. Another branch supplied the Thermæ of Constantine, on the Quirinal.

Plate XIX.

Reservoir on the Arches of Nero over the Arch of Dolabella.

This Plate is almost a repetition of Plate XV., but from a different point of view, and this great reservoir is of so much importance for the history of the aqueducts in Rome, that it was necessary to shew it as clearly as possible. Without repeating what has been said before, we may add that the arch seen to the right in this view is the beginning of an arcade which led to the Colosseum. Another branch in a more direct line led to the Palatine, after passing first along the north wall of the garden of the Villa Celimontana, then by the western side of the Clivus Scauri, parallel to the church of SS. John and Paul, and at the foot of the hill passing across the road, and under the apse of the church; then turning again southwards on an arcade across the valley to the Palatine, of which there are remains; afterwards passing along the whole length of the Palatine underground, it is visible at the mouth of a tunnel on the platform opposite to the Capitoline Hill, and went across the Forum Romanum over the bridge of Caligula. The work of Nero stopped at the Arch of Dolabella, but it was taken up and completed by his successors.

Another branch went also to the left, on the west wall of the garden of the Villa Celimontana, to the valley between the Cœlian and the Aventine. There is a large reservoir for it on the cliff of the Cœlian, partly below and partly above it, and in the garden of the monks of S. Gregory. It then went on a tall arcade, over the Porta Capena and the agger of Servius Tullius, to the Piscina Publica, and from thence, again crossing the valley between the two parts of the Aventine, to the Thermæ of Sura, and the private house of Trajan, and the temples on the edge of the Aventine, and to the mouth of the aqueducts in the cave under the Priorato at the Porta Trigemina, and so to the Tiber.