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ROTOLO n.1 – Public Fountains in Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Follow @Polemicarc for more –
#fountain #herculaneum #pompeii #architecture #arquitectura #RomanEmpire
Follow @Polemicarc for more –
#fountain #herculaneum #pompeii #architecture #arquitectura #RomanEmpire
Public fountains were execptionally important for every urbanized civilization.
They served an important logistic and social function, located in the most strategic places to relieve the thirst of the people walking by, supplied by the local aquaduct. (pic thru @wrathofgnon)
They served an important logistic and social function, located in the most strategic places to relieve the thirst of the people walking by, supplied by the local aquaduct. (pic thru @wrathofgnon)
@wrathofgnon Water was supplied through mighty infrastructures (here, Aqua Claudia – the 8th aquaduct built), and canalized along very long distances, thanks to the deep insight Romans had over hydraulics.
Romans built their aquaducts with a slope of 0,00034%, which is 34 cm/Km.
Romans built their aquaducts with a slope of 0,00034%, which is 34 cm/Km.
@wrathofgnon Lead pipes ran under the sidewalks and are still visible today in various points of the ancient Vesuvian cities. The use of lead was widespread in Roman times, as it was unkown how harmful it was to health.
Derivation box with valves, valve, part of pneumatic pump.
Derivation box with valves, valve, part of pneumatic pump.
@wrathofgnon The current laws establish a limit of 10 μg/l for lead, and 1.5 mg/l for fluorine.
I would avoid at all cost to drink the tap water in the municipalities of Ercolano, S.Giorgio a Cremano, Torre del Greco, Portici (not to talk about some other values…).
I would avoid at all cost to drink the tap water in the municipalities of Ercolano, S.Giorgio a Cremano, Torre del Greco, Portici (not to talk about some other values…).
@wrathofgnon The elevator pillar of the aquaduct granted a constant water flow to the fountains. Note the built-in piping with lead ‘fistula’. These pillars were water towers held in pressure by the Castellum Aquae.
Interesting study on the water supply in Pompeii: tinyurl.com/y58v5ow8
Interesting study on the water supply in Pompeii: tinyurl.com/y58v5ow8
@wrathofgnon A fountain consisted in large stone orthostats as quadrangular basin, held together by leaded metal clamps, whose edges are often levigated through usage, and a separated block (in Pompeii) adorned with bas-reliefs generally depicting divinities or animals. Fountain of Neptune.
@wrathofgnon In Herculaneum the fountains are made of marble, with a stump showing figured relieves, from which the water gush came out. This was not a separated block,as for the fountains in Pompeii, but was carved in the same slab that forms one of the sides of the basin. Fountain of Venus.
@wrathofgnon The fountain of Hercules (Decumano Maximus - Cardus V) shows wear and tear throughout the perimeter of the basin, a sign that it was normally brimful of water as it was possible to draw it from all sides.
@wrathofgnon In Pompeii the capacity of the fountains’ basin is on average 1 m2, while in Herculaneum the Fountain of Venus has a capacity of 2.9 m2, the Fountain of Hercules of 2.5 m2, and the Fountain of Neptune 1.8 m2 (Jansen, 2002).
@wrathofgnon Up to some time ago the fountains were still in use, with awkward results as you can see.
Polemics around aesthetics, algae and consumption put an end to it.
And this dude
Polemics around aesthetics, algae and consumption put an end to it.
And this dude
@wrathofgnon I leave you with an engraving from De Architectura (Vitruvius), Tabula LI, Liber VIII, Capitulum VII.
…so, this was my first thread, I hope you found it informative. Thanks for reading!
…so, this was my first thread, I hope you found it informative. Thanks for reading!
