Illustrations of the Croton Aqueduct

by F. B. Tower

The seventh Inca, Viracocha, constructed some water works, which, in their beneficial effects, perhaps equalled any similar undertakings in any other part of the world. “He made an Aqueduct 12 feet in depth, and 120 leagues in length; the source or head of it arose from certain springs on the top of a high mountain between Parcu and Picuy, which was so plentiful that at the very head of the fountains they seemed to be rivers. This current of water had its course through all the country of the Rucanas, and served to water the pasturage of those uninhabited lands, which are about 18 leagues in breadth, watering almost the whole country of Peru.”

There is another Aqueduct much like this, which traverses the whole province of Cuntisuyu, running above 150 leagues from south to north. Its head or original is from the top of high mountains, the which waters falling into the plains of the Quechuas, greatly refresh their pasturage, when the heats of the summer and autumn have dried up the moisture of the earth.

“There are many streams of like nature, which run through divers parts of the empire, which being conveyed by Aqueducts, at the charge and expense of the Incas, are works of grandeur and ostentation, and which recommend the magnificence of the Incas to all posterity; for these Aqueducts may well be compared to the miraculous fabrics which have been the works of mighty princes, who have left their prodigious monuments of ostentation to be admired by future ages; for, indeed, we ought to consider that these waters had their source and beginning from vast, high mountains, and were carried over craggy rocks and inaccessible passages; and to make these ways plain, they had no help of instruments forged of steel or iron, such as pickaxes or sledges, but served themselves only with one stone to break another. Nor were they acquainted with the invention of arches, to convey the water on the level from one precipice to the other, but traced round the mountain until they found ways and passages at the same height and level with the head of the springs.”

“The cisterns or conservatories which they made for these waters, at the top of the mountain, were about 12 feet deep; the passage was broken through the rocks, and channels made of hewn stone, of about two yards long and about a yard high; which were cemented together, and rammed in with earth so hard, that no water would pass between, to weaken or vent itself by the holes of the channel.

“The current of water which passes through all the division of Cuntisuyu I have seen in the province of Quechua, which is part of that division, and considered it an extraordinary work, and indeed surpassing the description and report which hath been made of it. But the Spaniards who were aliens and strangers, little regarded the convenience of these works, either to serve themselves in the use of them, or to keep them in repair, nor yet to take so much notice of them as to mention them in their histories, but rather out of a scornful and disdaining humor, have suffered them to run into ruin, beyond all recovery. The same fate hath befallen the Aqueducts which the Indians made for watering their corn lands, of which two thirds at least are wholly destroyed, and none kept in repair, unless some few which are so useful that without them they cannot sustain themselves with bread, nor with the necessary provisions of life. All which works are not so totally destroyed but that there still remain some ruins and appearances of them.”

In describing the temple and gardens at Cusco. Garcilasso observes, “there were five fountains of water, which ran from divers places through pipes of gold. The cisterns were some of stone, and others of gold and silver in which they washed their sacrifices, as the solemnity of the festival required.”

Fountains.

Artificial fountains and jets d’eau are of extreme antiquity; they have been used for beautifying public grounds of cities, and have served the purpose of moderating the temperature of the air; in these cases the water has been in some instances perfumed.

“From excavations made at Pompeii it appears that in almost every street there was a fountain, and that bronze statues, through which the water issued were common,—several have been found,—four or five are boys of beautiful workmanship; the fluid issued from vases resting on their shoulders, or held under their arms, and in some cases from masks. Paintings of elegant fountains, from which the water issued in perpendicular jets, have also been discovered both at Herculaneum and Pompeii.”

“In the middle of the square of the Coliseum, is a pretty remarkable piece of antiquity, (says Blainville,) though very little minded by most people. Here stood anciently, a beautiful fountain, adorned with the finest marbles and columns; and on the top was a bronze statue of Jupiter, from which issued great plenty of water, as may be seen on the reverse of one of Titus’ medals. This fountain was of great use both to the spectators and the gladiators in the amphitheatre to refresh themselves. Pope Alexander VII. caused it to be repaired, but since his time it has been entirely neglected.”