Transcript 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
1a.
Character of the terrain
Alluvial fans in mountainous
areas
From mountainous to almost flat
area’s
1b.
Climate
Mainly in arid regions
Semi-arid and wet area’s
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
Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Comparison 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
Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Comparison 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
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