Posted on 04/19/2009 4:27:23 AM PDT by Fred Nerks
The Ancient World's Longest Underground Aqueduct
Roman engineers chipped an aqueduct through more than 100 kilometers of stone to connect water to cities in the ancient province of Syria. The monumental effort took more than a century, says the German researcher who discovered it.
When the Romans weren't busy conquering their enemies, they loved to waste massive quantities of water, which gurgled and bubbled throughout their cities. The engineers of the empire invented standardized lead pipes, aqueducts as high as fortresses, and water mains with 15 bars (217 pounds per square inch) of pressure.
PHOTO GALLERY: ROME'S LONGEST PIPE
In the capital alone there were thousands of fountains, drinking troughs and thermal baths. Rich senators refreshed themselves in private pools and decorated their gardens with cooling grottos. The result was a record daily consumption of over 500 liters of water per capita (Germans today use around 125 liters).
However, when the Roman legions marched into the barren region of Palestine, shortly before the birth of Christ, they had to forgo the usual splashing about, at least temporarily. It was simply too dry.
But that didn't stop the empire's clever engineers. They soon figured out a way to put things right. In the former Roman province of Syria (located in modern day Jordan), researchers are currently studying a sensational canal system. It extends mostly underground over a distance of 106 kilometers (66 miles).
The tunnel was discovered by Mathias Döring, a hydromechanics professor in Darmstadt, Germany. Treading on moss-covered steps, he squeezes his way into dark caverns plastered with waterproof mortar. Greek letters are emblazoned on the walls, and bats dart through the air. "Sometimes we have to stop working -- there isn't enough oxygen," says the project director.
(Excerpt) Read more at spiegel.de ...
Good Question.
Palistinians? ;-)
Damascus steel? - nope too early
"Metalsmiths in India and Sri Lanka perhaps as early as 300BCE developed a new technique known as wootz steel that produced a high-carbon steel of unusually high purity.
I suppose they could have used bronze and iron chisels, especially on softer rock. There are also references to building a fire to heat the surface being excavated and then splashing water on the surface to fracture the rock.
In the former Roman province of Syria (located in modern day Jordan), researchers are currently studying a sensational canal system. It extends mostly underground over a distance of 106 kilometers (66 miles).
good question, the article doesn't appear to answer that.
:’) Thanks Fred Nerks. The Romans had it goin’ on.
Rome’s Tremendous Tunnel [100 kilometers long, century to dig it]
Speigel | Wednesday, March 11, 2009 | Matthias Schulz
Posted on 03/13/2009 8:35:55 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2206315/posts
related topics:
Claudius’ Naumachia on Fucine Lake (Those About To Die, chap III)
Those About To Die (via Kurt Saxon) | 1950s (I believe) | Daniel P. Mannix
Posted on 11/24/2005 7:45:06 AM PST by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1527955/posts
The Tunnel of Samos (Over 1000 Meters Sixth Century BC)
Cal Tech Engineering and Science | N/A | Tom M. Apostol
Posted on 04/03/2009 4:45:40 PM PDT by raybbr
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2221910/posts
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Gods |
Thanks Fred Nerks. |
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The maintenance guys haven’t been around in a while. ;’)
The wall wont stop anything,gee you think China built a wall for nothing?
Actually, yes, it was largely for nothing. Architecturally, it was a huge achievement. Militarily, however, it was a total failure.
Our government will build its wall in a matter of months, just as soon as they need it to keep us in.
It's what communist dictatorships do.
Very interesting, indeed. A lot of engineering genius in the Roman Empire.
What a ridiculous comment!
ok now how do you dig tunnels like that without lights?????
this is freaky
That sounds like a democrat idea
Sounds familiar....history IS repeating itself.
Agree we are only a few steps away from a dictatorships.
Well, that goes without saying
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