Cisterns of the Roman Baths, Beirut
Cisterns of the Roman Baths is located in downtown Beirut, Lebanon.
Contents
Overview
The Romans constructed an aqueduct fed by the Beirut River whose main source was located 10 km from the city. When the water reached Riad Al Solh Square, it was stored in large cisterns and then distributed to the pools of the Roman Baths.
History
For centuries, the streams and wells of Ain Naba’, Berjawi and Khandaq Al-Ghamiq provided Beirut with fresh water. At the time of Roman Berytus, four large bath complexes as well as numerous private baths increased the city’s water consumption. The Romans constructed an aqueduct fed by the Beirut River whose main source was located 10 km from the city.
The aqueduct crossed the river at Qanater Zbaydeh and followed the slopes of Hazmieh to Mar Mikhael and Furn Al-Chebak. The water finally reached Riad Al Solh Square; there, at the foot of the Serail Hill (where now there it is the Grand Serail garden area), it was stored in large cisterns.
An intricate network of lead or clay pipes and channels distributed the water to the various pools of the Roman Baths. In the early XIX century were discovered some of the Cisterns.
See also
References
- Davie, Michael F., Makaroun, Yasmine and Nordiguian, Leon (1997). Les Qanater Zubaydé et l’alimentation en eau de Beyrouth et de ses environs à l’époque romaine, Bulletin d’Archéologie et d’Architecture Libanaises 2:262-289.
