Aqueduct of Segovia
40.948444444444 - 4.11869444444441002Koordinaten: 40 ° 56 ' 54.4 "N, 4 ° 7' 7.3 " W
Valley floor in Segovia
The Aqueduct of Segovia in central Spain dates back to the heyday of the Roman Empire and led for centuries fresh spring water from the mountains of the Sierra de Fuenfría lies approximately 17 kilometers to the city.
History
The aqueduct was probably built under the Roman emperor Trajan (reigned AD 98-117 ) - some researchers also bring the Emperor Vespasian (r. 69-79 ) and Nerva (r. 96-98 ) into play. In the Muslim period ( 1072 ) it has been damaged in parts; However, the damage was fixed in the late 15th century at the time of the Catholic Monarchs through the careful insertion of 36 Gothic pointed arches. The aqueduct was in operation until 1974.
Building
Stone material and wall art
The piers were built in a kind of casting technique in which a growing upward wall shell made of granite with a mixture of small boulders and mortar (opus caementitium ) was filled. The perfectly uniform masonry suggests that the stones were hewn already in the quarry to the specified dimensions and could be put in place without major rework.
Architecture
A total of up to 28 meters high Aqueduct over 119 arches that by 163 intermediate sheets ( 44 double arches in the center and 75 individual sheets on the sides) has to be stabilized. The lower area of about 4.50 meters apart pillar jump several times slightly and are only connected to each other by stabilizing sheets in a clear height of sometimes up to 18 meters - by this daring design was an enormous material and transport cost savings achieved. The upper row of arches is much lower and sleeker and has a clear width between the unarticulated pillars of approximately 5.10 meters.
Inscription and Statues
Above the three highest arches in the middle is a brick pedestal on which formerly probably an inscription was placed in honor of the builder. Furthermore, to see two niches where statues of Hercules probably, the legendary founders were erected in the city. Today, there are figures of the Virgin Mary ( Virgen de la Fuencisla ) and St. Sebastian, who are first mentioned in the 16th century.
Importance
Due to its extremely solid construction with pillar cores of ancient concrete (opus caementitium ), stones made of granite and the permanent maintenance for centuries considered the Aqueduct of Segovia as best-preserved evidence of Roman architecture on the Iberian Peninsula. Since 1985 he is listed along with the Old Town of Segovia on the list of UNESCO world heritage. The American Society of Civil Engineers has taken him in 1999 in the International List of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks.