THE AQUEDUCTS. CLAUDIA AND ANIO NOVUS
IN THE CAMPAGNA NEAR THE PISCINAE AND 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.
AQUEDUCTS ON THE VIA LATINA.
NEAR PORTA FURBA
UNDER THE TOR FISCALE MARCIA & CLAUDIA
Photogravure Dujardin, Paris
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.