Hoc in volumine haec opera continentur

Frontinus on Aqueducts

A WONDERFUL LITTLE BOOK OF SEXTUS JULIUS FRONTINUS, A CONSULAR MAN, ON THE WATERS WHICH FLOW INTO THE CITY.

A decorative initial V is depicted. Since every matter entrusted by the emperor requires more intent care, both natural anxiety and faithful dedication move me, not only to diligence, but also instigate [in me] a love for the work committed to my charge. And now, under Nerva Augustus, a man I do not know if I should call more diligent or more loving of the republic, the office of the waters has been enjoined upon me, which pertains to the health and security of the city, [an office] always administered by the leading men of our city. I think first and most importantly, as I had begun in other matters, to know what I have undertaken. For I would not believe that any foundation of rectitude in any action exists, other than to be able to discern what must be done and what must be avoided. For what is truly as indecorous and intolerable for a man, than to act out an assigned office through the instructions of an assistant, which is often necessary when ignorance proceeds from the one to whom it is assigned? Usage, even if parts are necessary, still, to the ministry, [acts] as the hand and instrument of the agent. Because, therefore, it pertains to the whole matter, having kept to the custom for many offices I have held, I have brought [everything] into order and as if into this body, in this commentary, which I might look upon as a formula for administration. In other books, which I composed after experience and practice, the matter of my successors was dealt with; perhaps the utility of this commentary will also pertain to a successor. But since it was written at the beginning of my administration, it will primarily serve as a rule for my own instruction; and so that I might not seem to have omitted any knowledge pertaining to the whole matter, I will first place the names of the waters which flow into the city of Rome; then through whom each of them, and by which hills, and in what year after the founding of the city they were brought in; then from what places, and in the year they began, how much by underground channel, how much by substructure, how much by arched work; then the height, the modules measures of each, the reason, and the erogation distribution from them. How much outside the city, how much inside; and what measure each region keeps for its own module, how many public and private reservoirs there are, and from which how much to public works, how much to grants—for thus they are called more cultivated—how much to lakes, how much in the name of Caesar, and how much to private use by the grace of the prince. What law there is for holding them, and with what penalty, by law, decrees of the Senate, and mandates of the princes, they are imposed.

A decorative initial U is depicted. From the founding of the city, for 441 years, the Romans were content with the use of waters which they drew either from the Tiber or from springs. The memory of the springs, with holiness, still exists and is worshipped. We believe it brings health to sick bodies, as C. Amaranus Apollinaris mentions. Now, however, there flow into the city the waters Appia, Anio Vetus, Marcia, Tepula, Julia, Virgo, Alsietina—which is also called Augusta—Claudia, and Anio Novus. Appia: in the consulate of M. Valerius Maximus and P. Decius Mus, in the 20th year after the beginning of the Samnite War, it was introduced by Appius Claudius Crassus the Censor, who later suffered, [and who] was [therefore] given the cognomen name [Caecus]. He also took care to pave the Appian Way from the Capuan Gate as far as the city of Capua. He had as a colleague C. Fabius, to whom, on account of his prominent veins, the cognomen Venox Vein-man was given. But he resigned from the censorship within a year and six months, deceived by his colleague, who [had promised] he would do the same. The name of the water pertained only to the honor of Appius, who is said to have delayed the censorship through many tergiversations evasions, until he could secure both the road and the aqueduct. The Appia begins in the Lucullan field on the Praenestine Way, between the 6th and 8th milestones, in a detour to the left, 780 paces.