Title: Differences between Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
1Differences between Persian qanats and Roman
aqueducts
- A short explanation and a comparisson
- by W.D. Schram MSc
2Overview
- Introduction on Roman aqueducts
- Introduction about Persian qanats
- Comparison
3Aqueducts basic elements
4Aqueducts tunnels
- A masonry channel inside a tunnel (Cave de Curé,
Gier aqueduct, Lyon, France)
5Aqueducts 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
6Aqueducts arcade
- Two aqueduct channels (70 and 88 km long, mainly
subterranean) on top of a series of arches (Rome,
Italy)
7Aqueducts the users
- Local fountain
- (Gerasa, Jordan)
- Baths (reconstruction)
- (Xanten, Germany)
8The Roman empire
9Roman aqueducts some 1500
10Qanats basic elements
11Qanats from the air
12Qanats channel and shafts
13Qanats construction
- Clay rings for reinforcements
14Qanats distribution 1
15Qanats distribution 2
16Qanats distribution 3
17Qanats in Europe 1
- Madrid (Spain)
- Madjira place of qanats
- Near Selb and Asch (Germany)
18Qanats in Europe 2
- The qanat of Walferdange (Luxemburg) with
stepped channel and access shafts
19Qanats distribution worldwide
20Qanats the users
21Storage
22Qanats works of art
- Qanat bridge
- (Kharanaq, Yazd)
23Comparison 1 Physical Geography
Element Persian qanat Roman aqueduct
1a. Character of the terrain Alluvial fans in mountainous areas From mountainous to almost flat areas
1b. Climate Mainly in arid regions Semi-arid and wet areas
1c. Source Mother well(s) in an aquifer Spring, river, lake by exception well or aquifer
1d. Type of source Delayed delivery Mainly instant delivery
1e. Place in the landscape 100 subterranean Some 20 above ground
24Comparison 2 Technology
Element Persian qanat Roman aqueduct
2a. Construction Subterranean channel with shafts Masonry channel or pipe, sometimes with manholes
2b. Builders Paid specialists / specialists Slave specialists, contractors, sometimes military personnel
2c. Course Almost straight line Sinuous, following the countour lines
2d. Works of art By exception (bridges, subterrenean dams and mills) Bridges, tunnels, arcades, siphons
2e. Distribution Sluice gates, timesharing systems Castellae divisoria
2f. Storage Only local, with modelst volumes No, behind some large bath houses
2g. Surplus water Reused in other qanats at lower level Flushing sewers and public toilets, fullers
25Comparison 3 Societal
Element Persian qanat Roman aqueduct
3a. Users Irrigation and public use. By exception in private housing for cooling Public use and bathhouses. By exception for industry, private individuals and farmers
3b. Ownership In cooperation (10 250). Sometimes rich individuals Public bodies, town councils
3c. Finance Members of the cooperation Locan maecenas, emporer, town council
3d. Status within society The only water source, essential for life, utilitarian Additional to existing sources, luxery, showcase of pride and power
3e. Present status Many still in use Almost all out of use, some reconstructed
26Conclusions
- 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
27Problems ?!
- Nonius Datus (150 CE) (Saldae, Algeria)