Complete Works of Frontinus

by Frontinus

  [2] Neque enim ullum omnis actus certius fundamentum crediderim, aut aliter quae facienda quaeque vitanda sint posse decerni, aliudve tam indecorum tolerabili viro, quam delegatum officium ex adiutorum agere praeceptis, quod fieri necesse est, quotiens imperitia praepositi ad illorum decurrit usum; quorum etsi necessariae partes sunt ad ministerium, tamen ut manus quaedam et instrumentum agentis. * * * Quapropter ea quae ad universam rem pertinentia contrahere potui, more iam per multa mihi officia servato in ordinem et velut corpus diducta in hunc commentarium contuli, quem pro formula administrationis respicere possem. In aliis autem libris, quos post experimenta et usum composui, succedentium res acta est; huius commentarii pertinebit fortassis et ad successorem utilitas, sed cum inter initia administrationis meae scriptus sit, in primis ad meam institutionem regulamque proficiet.

  [2] For I believe that there is no surer foundation for any business than this, and that it would be otherwise impossible to determine what ought to be done, what ought to be avoided; likewise that there is nothing so disgraceful for a decent man as to conduct an office delegated to him, according to the instructions of assistants. Yet precisely this is inevitable whenever a person inexperienced in the matter in hand has to have recourse to the practical knowledge of subordinates. For though the latter play a necessary rôle in the way of rendering assistance, yet they are, as it were, but the hands and tools of the directing head. Observing, therefore, the practice which I have followed in many offices, I have gathered in this sketch (into one systematic body, so to speak) such facts, hitherto scattered, as I have been able to get together, which bear on the general subject, and which might serve to guide me in my administration. Now in the case of other books which I have written after practical experience, I consulted the interests of my predecessors. The present treatise also may be found useful by my own successor, but it will serve especially for my own instruction and guidance, being prepared, as it is, at the beginning of my administration.

  [3] Ac ne quid ad totius rei pertinens notitiam praetermisisse videar, nomina primum aquarum, quae in urbem Romam influunt, ponam; tum per quos quaeque earum et quibus consulibus, quoto post urbem conditam anno perducta sit; dein quibus ex locis et a quoto miliario capta sit ac quantum subterraneo rivo, quantum substructione, quantum opere arcuato; post altitudinem cuiusque modulorumque erogationes ab illis factae sint, quantum extra urbem, quantum intra urbem unicuique regioni pro suo modo unaquaeque aquarum serviat; quot castella publica sint, et ex eis quantum publicis operibus, quantum muneribus ( ita enim cultiores appellant) quantum lacibus, quantum nomine Caesaris, quantum privatorum usibus beneficio principis detur; quod ius ducendarum tuendarumque sit earum, quae id sanciant poenae lege, senatus consultis, mandatis principum inrogatae.

  [3] And lest I seem to have omitted anything requisite to a familiarity with the entire subject, I will first set down the names of the waters which enter the City of Rome; then I will tell by whom, under what consuls, and in what year after the founding of the City each one was brought in; then at what point and at what milestone each water was taken; how far each is carried in a subterranean channel, how far on substructures, how far on arches. Then I will give the elevation of each, [the plan] of the taps, and the distributions that are made from them; how much each aqueduct brings to points outside the City, what proportion to each quarter within the City; how many public reservoirs there are, and from these how much is delivered to public works, how much to ornamental fountains (munera, as the more polite call them), how much to the water-basins; how much is granted in the name of Caesar; how much for private uses by the favour of the Emperor; what is the law with regard to the construction and maintenance of the aqueducts, what penalties enforce it, whether established by resolutions of the Senate or by edicts of the Emperors.

  [4] Ab urbe condita per annos quadringentos quadraginta unum contenti fuerunt Romani usu aquarum, quas aut ex Tiberi aut ex puteis aut ex fontibus hauriebant. Fontium memoria cum sanctitate adhuc exstat et colitur; salubritatem aegris corporibus afferre creduntur, sicut Camenarum et Apollinis et Iuturnae. Nunc autem in urbem influunt aqua Appia, Anio Vetus, Marcia, Tepula, Iulia, Virgo, Alsietina quae eadem vocatur Augusta, Claudia, Anio Novus.

  [4] For four hundred and forty-one years from the foundation of the City, the Romans were satisfied with the use of such waters as they drew from the Tiber, from wells, or from springs. Esteem for springs still continues, and is observed with veneration. They are believed to bring healing to the sick, as, for example, the springs of the Camenae, of Apollo, and of Juturna. But there now run into the City: the Appian aqueduct, Old Anio, Marcia, Tepula, Julia, Virgo, Alsietina, which is also called Augusta, Claudia, New Anio.

  [5] M. Valerio Maximo P. Decio Mure consulibus, anno post initium Samnitici belli tricesimo aqua Appia in urbem inducta est ab Appio Claudio Crasso censore, cui postea Caeco fuit cognomen, qui et Viam Appiam a Porta Capena usque ad urbem Capuam muniendam curavit. Collegam habuit C. Plautium, cui ob inquisitas eius aquae venas Venocis cognomen datum est. Sed quia is intra annum et sex menses deceptus a collega tamquam idem facturo abdicavit censura, nomen aquae ad Appii tantum honorem pertinuit, qui multis tergiversationibus extraxisse censuram traditur, donec et viam et huius aquae ductum consummaret. Concipitur Appia in agro Lucullano Via Praenestina inter miliarium septimum et octavum deverticulo sinistrorsus passuum septingentorum octoginta. Ductus eius habet longitudinem a capite usque ad Salinas, qui locus est ad Portam Trigeminam, passuum undecim milium centum nonaginta; ex eo rivus est subterraneus passuum undecim milium centum triginta, supra terram substructio et opus arcuatum proximum Portam Capenam passuum sexaginta. Iungitur ei ad Spem Veterm in confinio hortorum Torquatianorum et Epaphroditianorum ramus Augustae ab Augusto in supplementum eius additus * * * loco nomen * * * denti Gemellorum. Hic Via Praenestina ad miliarium sextum deverticulo sinistrorsus passuum nongentorum octoginta proxime Viam Collatinam accipit fontem. Cuius ductus usque ad Gemellos efficit rivo subterraneo passuum sex milia trecentos octoginta. Incipit distribui Appia imo Publicii Clivo ad Portam Trigeminam, qui locus Salinae appellantur.

  [5] In the consulship of Marcus Valerius Maximus and Publius Decius Mus, in the thirtieth year after the beginning of the Samnite War, the Appian aqueduct was brought into the City by Appius Claudius Crassus, the Censor, who afterwards received the surname of “the Blind,” the same man who had charge of constructing the Appian Way from the Porta Capena as far as the City of Capua. As colleague in the censorship Appius had Gaius Plautius, to whom was given the name of “the Hunter” for having discovered the springs of this water. But since Plautius resigned the censorship within a year and six months, under the mistaken impression that his colleague would do the same, the honour of giving his name to the aqueduct fell to Appius alone, who, by various subterfuges, is reported to have extended the term of his consulship, until he should complete both the Way and this aqueduct. The intake of the Appia is on the Lucullan estate, between the seventh and eighth milestones, on the Praenestine Way, on a cross-road, 780 paces to the left. From its intake to the Salinae at the Porta Trigemina, its channel has a length of 11,190 paces, of which 11,130 paces run underground, while above ground sixty paces are carried on substructures and, near the Porta Capena, on arches. Near Spes Vetus, on the edge of the Torquatian and Epaphroditian Gardens, there joins it a branch of Augusta, added by Augustus as a supplementary supply … This branch has its intake at the sixth milestone, on the Praenestine Way, on a cross-road, 980 paces to the left, near the Collatian Way. Its course, by underground channel, extends to 6,380 paces before reaching The Twins. The distribution of Appia begins at the foot of the Publician Ascent, near the Porta Trigemina, at the place designated as the Salinae.

  [6] Post annos quadraginta quam Appia perducta est, anno ab urbe condita quandringentesimo octogesimo uno M’. Curius Dentatus, qui censuram cum Lucio Papirio Cursore gessit, Anionis qui nunc Vetus dicitur aquam perducendam in urbem ex manubiis de Pyrro captis locavit, Spurio Carvilio Lucio Papirio consulibus iterum. P
ost biennium deinde actum est in senatu de consummando eius aquae opere referente * * * norumi * * * praetore. Tum ex senatus consulto duumviri aquae perducendae creati sunt Curius, qui eam locaverat et Fulvius Flaccus. Curius intra quintum diem quam erat duumvirum creatus decessit; gloria perductae pertinuit ad Fulvium. Concipitur Anio Vetus supra Tibur vicesimo miliario extra Portam * * * Ra * * * nam, ubi partem dat in Tiburtium usum. Ductus eius habet longitudinem, ita exigente libramento, passuum quadraginta trium milium: ex eo rivus est subterraneus passuum quadraginta duum milium septingentorum septuaginta novem, substructio supra terram passuum ducentorum viginti unius.

  [6] Forty years after Appia was brought in, in the four hundred and eighty-first year from the founding of the City, Manius Curius Dentatus, who held the censorship with Lucius Papirius Cursor, contracted to have the waters of what is now called Old Anio brought into the City, with the proceeds of the booty captured from Pyrrhus. This was in the second consulship of Spurius Carvilius and Lucius Papirius. Then two years later the question of completing the aqueduct was discussed in the Senate on the motion … of the praetor. At the close of the discussion, Curius, who had let the original contract, and Fulvius Flaccus were appointed by decree of the Senate as a board of two to bring in the water. Within five days of the time he had been appointed, one of the two commissioners, Curius, died; thus the credit of achieving the work rested with Flaccus. The intake of Old Anio is above Tibur at the twentieth milestone outside the … Gate, where it gives a part of its water to supply the Tiburtines. Owing to the exigence of elevation, its conduit has a length of 43,000 paces. Of this, the channel runs underground for 42,779 paces, while there are above ground substructures for 221 paces.

  [7] Post annos centum viginti septem, id est anno ab urbe condita sexcentesimo octavo, Ser. Sulpicio Galba Lucio Aurelio Cotta consulibus cum Appiae Anionisque ductus vetustate quassati privatorum etiam fraudibus interciperentur, datum est a senatu negotium Marcio, qui tum praetor inter cives his dicebat, eorum ductuum reficiendorum ac vindicandorum. Et quoniam incrementum urbis exigere videbatur ampliorem modum aquae, eidem mandatum a senatu est, ut curaret, quatenus alias aquas posset in urbem perducere. * * * Priores ductus restituit et tertiam illis salubriorem * * * duxit, cui ab auctore Marciae nomen est. Legimus apud Fenestellam, in haec opera Marcio decretum sestertium milies octingenties, et quoniam ad consummandum negotium non sufficiebat spatium praeturae, in annum alterum est prorogatum. Eo tempore decemviri, dum aliis ex causis libros Sibyllinos inspiciunt, invenisse dicuntur, non esse fas aquam Marciam seu potius Anionem ( de hoc enim constantius traditur ) in Capitolium perduci, deque ea re in senatu M. Lepido pro collegio verba faciente actum Appio Claudio Q. Caecilio consulibus, eandemque post annum tertium a Lucio Lentulo retractatam C. Laelio Q. Servilio consulibus, sed utroque tempore vicisse gratiam Marci Regis: atque ita in Capitolium esse aquam perductam. Concipitur Marcia Via Valeria ad miliarium tricesimum sextum deverticulo euntibus ab urbe Roma dextrorsus milium passuum trium. Sublacensi autem, quae sub Nerone principe primum strata est, ad miliarium tricesimum octavum sinistrorsus intra passus ducentos fontium * * * sub * * * bus petrei * * *stat immobilis stagni modo colore praeviridi. Ductus eius habet longitudinem a capite ad urbem passuum sexaginta milium et mille septingentorum decem et semis; rivo subterraneo passuum quinquaginta quattuor milium ducentorum quadraginta septem semis, opere supra terram passuum septem milium quadringentorum sexaginta trium: ex eo longius ab urbe pluribus locis per vallis opere arcuato passuum quadringentorum sexaginta trium, propius urbem a septimo miliario substructione passuum quingentorum viginti octo, reliquo opere arcuato passuum sex milium quadringentorum septuaginta duum.

  [7] One hundred and twenty-seven years later, that is in the six hundred and eighth year from the founding of the City, in the consulship of Servius Sulpicius Galba and Lucius Aurelius Cotta, when the conduits of Appia and Old Anio had become leaky by reason of age, and water was also being diverted from them unlawfully by individuals, the Senate commissioned Marcius, who at that time administered the law as praetor between citizens, to reclaim and repair these conduits; and since the growth of the City was seen to demand a more bountiful supply of water, the same man was charged by the Senate to bring into the City other waters so far as he could. … He restored the old channels and brought in a third supply, more wholesome than these, … which is called Marcia after the man who introduced it. We read in Fenestella, that 180,000, sesterces were granted to Marcius for these works, and since the term of his praetorship was not sufficient for the completion of the enterprise, it was extended for a second year. At that time the Decemvirs, on consulting the Sibylline Books for another purpose, are said to have discovered that it was not right for the Marcian water, or rather the Anio (for tradition more regularly mentions this) to be brought to the Capitol. The matter is said to have been debated in the Senate, in the consulship of Appius Claudius and Quintus Caecilius, Marcus Lepidus acting as spokesman for the Board of Decemvirs; and three years later the matter is said to have been brought up again by Lucius Lentulus, in the consulship of Gaius Laelius and Quintus Servilius, but on both occasions the influence of Marcius Rex carried the day; and thus the water was brought to the Capitol. The intake of Marcia is at the thirty-sixth milestone on the Valerian Way, on a cross-road, three miles to the right as you come from Rome. But on the Sublacensian Way, which was first paved under the Emperor Nero, at the thirty-eighth milestone, within 200 paces to the left [a view of its source may be seen]. Its waters stand like a tranquil pool, of deep green hue. Its conduit has a length, from the intake to the City, of 61,710½ paces; 54,247½ paces of underground conduit; 7,463 paces on structures above ground, of which, at some distance from the City, in several places where it crosses valleys, there are 463 paces on arches; nearer the City, beginning at the seventh milestone, 528 paces on substructures, and the remaining 6,472 paces on arches.

  [8] Cn. Servilius Caepio et L. Cassius Longinus, qui Ravilla appellatus est, censores anno post urbem conditam sexcentesimo vicesimo septimo, M. Plautio Hypsaeo M. Fulvio Flacco cos., aquam quae vocatur Tepula ex agro Lucullano, quem quidam Tusculanum credunt, Romam et in Capitolium adducendam curaverunt. Tepula concipitur Via Latina ad decimum miliarium deverticulo euntibus ab Roma dextrorsus milium passuum duum * * *inde suo rivo in urbem perducebatur.

  [8] The Censors, Gnaeus Servilius Caepio and Lucius Cassius Longinus, called Ravilla, in the year 627 after the founding of the City, in the consulate of Marcus Plautus Hypsaeus and Marcus Fulvius Flaccus, had the water called Tepula brought to Rome and to the Capitol, from the estate of Lucullus, which some persons hold to belong to Tusculan territory. The intake of Tepula is at the tenth milestone on the Latin Way, near a cross-road, two miles to the right as you proceed from Rome … From that point it was conducted in its own channel to the City.

  [9] Post * * *Agrippa aedilis post primum consulatum imperatore Caesare Augusto II L. Volcatio cos., anno post urbem conditam septingentesimo nono decimo ad miliarium ab urbe duodecimum Via Latina deverticulo euntibus ab Roma dextrorsus milium passuum duum alterius aquae proprias vires collegit et Tepulae rivum intercepit. Adquisitae aquae ab inventore nomen Iuliae datum est, ita tamen divisa erogatione, ut maneret Tepulae appellatio. Ductus Iuliae efficit longitudinem passuum quindecim milium quadringentorum viginti sex S.: opere supra terram passuum septem milium: ex eo in proximis urbem locis a septimo miliario substructione passuum quingentorum viginti octo, reliquo opere arcuato passuum sex milium quadringentorum septuaginta duum. Praeter caput Iuliae transfluit aqua quae vocatur Crabra. Hanc Agrippa omisit, seu quia improbaverat, sive quia Tusculanis possessoribus relinquendam credebat; ea namque est quam omnes villae tractus eius per vicem in dies modulosque certos dispensatam accipiunt. Sed non eadem moderatione aquarii nostri partem eius semper in supplementum Iuliae vindicaverunt, nec ut Iuliam augerent, quam hauriebant largiendo compendi sui gratia. Exclusi ergo Crabram et totam iussu imperatoris reddidi Tusculanis, qui nunc, forsitan non sine admratione, eam sumunt ignari cui causae insol
itam abundantiam debeant. Iulia autem revocatis derivationibus, per quas surripiebatur, modum suum quamvis notabili siccitate servavit. Eodem anno Agrippa ductus Appiae, Anionis, Marciae paene dilapsos restituit et singulari cura compluribus salientibus instruxit urbem.

  [9] Later … in the second consulate of the Emperor Caesar Augustus, when Lucius Volcatius was his colleague, in the year 719 after the foundation of the City, [Marcus] Agrippa, when aedile, after his first consulship, took another independent source of supply, at the twelfth milestone from the City on the Latin Way, on a cross-road two miles to the right as you proceed from Rome, and also tapped Tepula. The name Julia was given to the new aqueduct by its builder, but since the waters were again divided for distribution, the name Tepula remained. The conduit of Julia has a length of 15,426½ paces; 7,000 paces on masonry above ground, of which 528 paces next the City, beginning at the seventh milestone, are on substructures, the other 6,472 paces being on arches. Past the intake of Julia flows a brook, which is called Crabra. Agrippa refrained from taking in this brook either because he had condemned it, or because he thought it ought to be left to the proprietors at Tusculum, for this is the water which all the estates of that district receive in turn, dealt out to them on regular days and in regular quantities. But our water-men, failing to practise the same restraint, have always claimed a part of it to supplement Julia, not, however, thus increasing the actual flow of Julia, since they habitually exhausted it by diverting its waters for their own profit. I therefore shut off the Crabra brook and at the Emperor’s command restored it entirely to the Tusculan proprietors, who now, possibly not without surprise, take its waters, without knowing to what cause to ascribe the unusual abundance. The Julian aqueduct, on the other hand, by reason of the destruction of the branch pipes through which it was secretly plundered, has maintained its normal quantity even in times of most extraordinary drought. In the same year, Agrippa repaired the conduits of Appia, Old Anio, and Marcia, which had almost worn out, and with unique forethought provided the City with a large number of fountains.