On the Nature and Law of Waters

...promised. Vitruvius, Book 2, in the Preface. The author likely refers to the architect Dinocrates, who promised Alexander the Great he would carve Mount Athos into the shape of a man holding a city and a vast reservoir. Alexander himself actually occupied Babylon by diverting the Euphrates river, following the example of Semiramis A legendary Queen of Babylon., who had performed the same feat long ago, as noted in Frontinus, Stratagems, Book 3, chapter 7, where he provides several examples of those who diverted rivers.

§. 11. Appius Claudius, who was Censor in the year 441 from the founding of the city original: "A. U. C." (Ab Urbe Condita). 441 A.U.C. corresponds to approximately 312 BCE., brought water to the city of Rome collected from more than 11 Italian miles away; because of its author, it was called the Aqua Appia. Frontinus, Book 1, at the beginning.

§. 12. Ctesibius, who flourished around 90 years before the birth of Christ, is celebrated as the first inventor of hydraulic machines by Vitruvius, Book 9, chapter 9, sections 7 & 13, and by Pliny, Book 7, chapter 37. While the text dates him to 90 BCE, modern historians usually place Ctesibius of Alexandria earlier, in the 3rd century BCE.

§. 13. Julius Caesar several times harmed his enemies with hydraulic stratagems, or evaded the enemy's own machinations. An excellent example of this is found in the beginning of Hirtius Pansa’s Commentaries on the Alexandrian War, chapters 1 & 2, where he describes the skill of Ganymede the Alexandrian. Using wheels and machines, Ganymede drew out a great force of water from the sea and poured it from higher ground into that part of Alexandria held by Caesar. Consequently, the water drawn there was somewhat saltier than usual, to the point that it could not be drunk at all. However, Caesar lessened the fear of his men through encouragement and reason. He affirmed that fresh water could be found by digging wells, as all shores naturally possess veins of fresh water. Once the task was undertaken and everyone’s spirits were urged to the labor, a great amount of fresh water was discovered in a single night. Thus, the laborious machinations and greatest efforts of the Alexandrians were countered with only a short period of work.

§. 14. Augustus Caesar brought forth the Alsietine water from Lake Alsietinus. To supplement the Aqua Martia whenever droughts required assistance, he also channeled another water source of the same high quality via an underground work all the way to the stream of the Martia. Both were named Augusta after their discoverer. Frontinus, Book 1, page 226. He is also said to have constructed a naumachia A large basin or flooded arena used to stage mock naval battles for public entertainment. near the Tiber, which is mentioned by Suetonius in the Life of Tiberius, chapter 72.

§. 15. To complete the most famous and greatest aqueduct, which had been begun by Caligula, the Emperor Claudius... The text cuts off here, referring to the Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus.