Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts - Website on Roman aqueducts

A short explanation <strong>and</strong> a comparissonby W.D. Schram MSc

Aqueducts: basic elements<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Aqueducts: tunnelNote:a masonry channel inside atunnel (Cave de Curé,Gier aqueduct, Lyon,France)<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Aqueducts: bridgesThe world knownaqueduct bridge Pont duGard, part of theaqueduct (50 km) ofNimes (France).Also represented on abanknote of 5 euro<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Aqueducts: arcadeTwo (!) aqueductchannels (70 <strong>and</strong>88 km long, mainlysubterranean) ontop of a series ofarches (Rome,Italy)<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

The <strong>Roman</strong> empire<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Aqueducts: some 750<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Aqueducts: the usersLocal fountain(Gerasa, Jordan)Baths (reconstruction)(Xanten, Germany)<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Aqueducts: examplesTunnel <strong>and</strong> pipes Akcay tunnel(550 BCE) (Side, Turkey)(Samos, Greece)Waterdistribution(Pompeii, Italy)<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: basic elements<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: channel <strong>and</strong> shaftsQanat shaft (near Yazd)Shaft tops<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: from the airPersepolis<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: the usersPlace to scoop waterWater distribution<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: works of artQanat bridge(Kharanaq, Yazd)Ice house(Yazd)<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: distribution worldwide<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: distribution 1<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: distribution 2Tehran (ca 1960 CE)Isfahan (1942 CE)<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: distribution 3Tafilalt (Maroc)Qanats in Syria<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: in Europe 1Madrid (Spain) =Madjira = place of <strong>qanats</strong>Near Selb <strong>and</strong> Asch(Germany)<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: in Europe 2The qanat of Walferdange(Luxemburg) with steppedchannel <strong>and</strong> access shafts<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Qanats: constructionMuqanniClay rings forreinforcements<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

StorageWater storage siteEntrance<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

CoolingWind towersTechnique<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Ice houseMeybodCross-section<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Subterrenean damDam in a qanat (Vazvan)Cross-section<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Subterranean water millHorizontal water wheel<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Comparison 1Element Iranian qanat <strong>Roman</strong> aqueductClimate Mainly in arid regions In arid <strong>and</strong> semi-arid regionsSource Aquifer River, spring or dam (byexception: well or aquifer)Place in thel<strong>and</strong>scapeConstruction100% subterranean 20% above ground (arcades,substructions)Shafts every 50 – 100m plusconnecting channelMasonry channel (or pipe),sometimes in qanatconstruction (shaft every 35 –70 m)Course Straight line Sinuous, following thecontour linesWorks of artExceptional: subterrane<strong>and</strong>ams<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>Bridges, tunnels, arcades,siphons

Comparison 2Element Iranian qanat <strong>Roman</strong> aqueductUsersDistributionPublic <strong>and</strong> farmers (privatehouses, bath houses?)Channels <strong>and</strong> sluices; forirrigation timesharingPublic <strong>and</strong> bathhouses.Also: houses, farmers, ornamentalfountains (grainmills)Distribution stations plus leadpipes inside the townsStatus Utilitarian / lifeline Additional to other sources (wells,rainwater); luxury (Baths);showcase (Show of pride <strong>and</strong>power)Builders Well paid specialists Slave specialist, contractors,sometimes support from themilitaryOwnership Coorperative ( 10 – 250 p) Town council<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Comparison 3Element Iranian qanat <strong>Roman</strong> aqueductFinanceMembers of thecooperationLocal meacenas, the emperor,twon councilSurplus water (only in winter): ? To flush the sewers <strong>and</strong> toilets,fullersStorage Local in modest volumes No, only behind some largebath houses (e.g. Rome)Basics:- cross-section- typical length- typical discharge- typical depth- typical fall0,6 – 1,2 m10 km2.000 m3/day10 – 50 m0,07 – 0,1 %0,6 – 1,2 m20 km20.000 m3/day5 m0,1 – 0,5 %<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Conclusions Although there are similarities, <strong>qanats</strong> are quitedifferent from roman <strong>aqueducts</strong> Most striking: the difference in the sources qanat(s) are often the only source of water <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong> are all out of use<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Problems ?!Nonius Datus (150 CE)(Saldae, Algeria)Tehran (2009 CE)<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>

Usefull websites The International Center on Qanats <strong>and</strong> Historic HydraulicStructures (ICQHS) in Yazd:http://www.icqhs.org/English/Default.aspx The Water Museum in Yazd is part of the ICQHS Youtube film about <strong>qanats</strong>:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieBVMOPRYJ0Thank youWilke Schram<strong>Persian</strong> <strong>qanats</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> <strong>aqueducts</strong>