Differences between Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts A
Differences between Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts A short explanation and a comparisson by W. D. Schram MSc
Overview Introduction on Roman aqueducts Introduction about Persian qanats Comparison Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: basic elements Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: tunnels A masonry channel inside a tunnel (Cave de Curé, Gier aqueduct, Lyon, France) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: bridges The world known aqueduct bridge Pont du Gard, part of the aqueduct (50 km) of Nimes (France). Also represented on the banknotes of 5 euro Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: arcade Two aqueduct channels (70 and 88 km long, mainly subterranean) on top of a series of arches (Rome, Italy) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: the users Local fountain (Gerasa, Jordan) Baths (reconstruction) (Xanten, Germany) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
The Roman empire Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Roman aqueducts: some 1500 Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: basic elements Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: from the air Persepolis Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: channel and shafts Qanat shaft (near Yazd) Shaft tops Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: construction Muqanni Clay rings for reinforcements Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: distribution 1 Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: distribution 2 Tehran (ca 1960 CE) Isfahan (1942 CE) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: distribution 3 Tafilalt (Maroc) Qanats in Syria Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: in Europe 1 Madrid (Spain) = Madjira = place of qanats Near Selb and Asch (Germany) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: in Europe 2 The qanat of Walferdange (Luxemburg) with stepped channel and access shafts Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: distribution worldwide Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: the users Place to scoop water Water distribution Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Storage Water storage site Entrance Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: works of art Qanat bridge (Kharanaq, Yazd) Ice house (Yazd) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Comparison 1: Physical Geography Element Persian qanat Roman aqueduct 1 a. Character of the terrain Alluvial fans in mountainous areas From mountainous to almost flat area’s 1 b. Climate Mainly in arid regions Semi-arid and wet area’s 1 c. Source Mother well(s) in an aquifer Spring, river, lake; by exception well or aquifer 1 d. Type of source Delayed delivery Mainly instant delivery 1 e. Place in the landscape 100% subterranean Some 20% above ground Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Comparison 2: Technology Element Persian qanat Roman aqueduct 2 a. Construction Subterranean channel with shafts Masonry channel or pipe, sometimes with manholes 2 b. Builders Paid specialists / specialists Slave specialists, contractors, sometimes military personnel 2 c. Course Almost straight line Sinuous, following the countour lines 2 d. Works of art By exception (bridges, subterrenean dams and mills) Bridges, tunnels, arcades, siphons 2 e. Distribution Sluice gates, timesharing systems Castellae divisoria 2 f. Storage Only local, with modelst volumes No, behind some large bath houses 2 g. Surplus water Reused in other qanats at lower level Flushing sewers and public toilets, fullers Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Comparison 3: Societal Element Persian qanat Roman aqueduct 3 a. Users Irrigation and public use. By exception in private housing for cooling Public use and bathhouses. By exception for industry, private individuals and farmers 3 b. Ownership In cooperation (10 – 250). Sometimes rich individuals Public bodies, town councils 3 c. Finance Members of the cooperation Locan maecenas, emporer, town council 3 d. Status within society The only water source, essential for life, utilitarian Additional to existing sources, luxery, showcase of pride and power 3 e. Present status Many still in use Almost all out of use, some reconstructed Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Conclusions Although there are similarities, qanats are quite different from roman aqueducts Most striking: The difference in the sources The almost straight line of a qanat Qanat(s) are often the only source of water Almost all Roman aqueducts are out of use Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Problems ? ! Nonius Datus (150 CE) (Saldae, Algeria) Tehran (2009 CE) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
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