Engineering in the Ancient World

Roman Engineering at Ephesus

Stephen Ressler, P.E., Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Todays Lecture
The Arch
} Aqueducts and
Water Supply
} Roman Baths
}

Gate of Mazaeus,
Ephesus

The Arch
Stadium Entrance, Olympia
(4th Century BC)

The Arch
Temple of Hadrian, Ephesus

The Arch: Construction

The Beam: Load-Carrying

Load

Reaction

Reaction

The Beam: Load-Carrying

Load

Reaction

Reaction

The Arch: Load-Carrying

LOAD

Reactions

ON

Thrust

Thrust

Reactions

The Arch: Load-Carrying

LOAD

ON

Reactions

Reactions

The Arch: Load-Carrying

Gratuitous Particle Physics Analogy

CABLE ANTI-ARCH

ARCH

Gratuitous Particle Physics Analogy

ARCH

ANTI-ARCH

The Arch in Roman

Architecture
The Odeon, Ephesus (c. 150 A.D.)

Pont St. Martin, Aosta, Italy (1st Century BC)

The Arch: Applications

Pons Fabricius, Rome (62 BC)

Pont du Gard, Nimes (c. 19 BC)

The Arch in Architecture

Relieving Arch, Ostia Antica

Relieving Arch, Ostia Antica

The Arch:

Why did it stimulate an architectural revolution?

Commercial Agora, Ephesus

Latrine Entrance, Ephesus

The Arch: Enclosing Space

Barrel Vault

The Arch: Enclosing Space

Groin Vault

The Arch: Enclosing Space

Dome

Cut-Stone Vaulting

Theater at Miletus

Stadium at Perge

Concrete Vaulting

Concrete Vaulting

Marnas Aqueduct, Ephesus

Roman Aqueduct
An enclosed channel
carrying water on a
steady downhill
gradient from a
source to a city.
} Used to supply baths,
public fountains,
latrines, and private
residences.
}

Aqueduct Channel

Calcium Carbonate Deposits

Aqueduct Structures
Substructio

Aquifer

Settling Basin

Channel at Grade

Aqueduct Structures
Aqueduct Bridge

Tunnel

Aqueduct Structures
Inverted Siphon

Arcade

Hydraulic Gradient

Header
Tank

Venter Bridge

Receiving
Tank

City Wall
Castellum
Divisorium

Degirmendere Aqueduct
(2nd Century AD)
}
}

One of six supplying water

to Ephesus
The channel:
}
}
}

Length: 23 miles
Elevation change: 144 feet
Average gradient: 0.1%

Incorporates:
}
}
}
}

3 sources
22 bridges
2 inverted siphons
4 tunnels

A masterpiece of
surveying and construction
quality control

Urban Water Distribution System

Castellum
Divisorium
Secondary
Castellum
Secondary
Castellum
Public
Fountain

Domes/c
Users

Castellum Divisorium, Pompeii

Castellum Divisorium, Pompeii

Secondary Castellum, Pompeii

Secondary Castellum, Pompeii

Calix

Urban Water Distribution

}

Gravity-driven flow through a

pressurized pipe network.
}
}

Pipes of lead, terra cotta, stone,

or wood
Divisions of flow normally at
castella (by law).

Continuous flow
}
}
}
}

Little or no water storage

Valves used primarily for
maintenance
Overflow = street cleaning
Sewers essential

Water Valves
National Archeological Museum,
Naples

Cutaway View

Water Distribution at Ephesus

Water Distribution at Ephesus

Drainage Systems

Ostia Antica

Who cares about Roman drains anyway?

Roman Baths
Baths of Varius, Ephesus

Baths of Caracalla, Rome (211-216 AD)

Baths of Caracalla, Rome (211-216 AD)

Floor Plan - Central Bathing Block

Caldarium
Hot Rooms

Hot Rooms
Tepidarium

Palaestra

Apodyteria

Frigidarium

Natatio

Palaestra

Apodyteria

Foundations

Underground Infrastructure
Furnaces
Service
Galleries
Roof
Drains
Drains
Maintenance
Passages

Heating the Hot Rooms

The Hypocaust

Hypocaust at Ephesus

The Roman Bath

Enabled public bathingan essential aspect of Roman
culture
} A beautifully integrated technological system:
}

}
}
}
}
}
}
}

Composite brick/concrete wall system

Arches, vaults, and dome to span long distances and enclose
space
Hypocaust heating and glazed windows
Water supply, storage, and distribution
Wastewater and stormwater removal
Public latrines
A water-powered grain mill in the basement!

A testimonial to Roman engineering design and

construction management

Quark!

Engineering in the Ancient World

Roman Engineering at Ephesus

Stephen Ressler, P.E., Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
U.S. Military Academy at West Point