Friday, March 28, 2014

Caesarea Maritima- Three-The Roman Aqueducts

Herod the Great rebuilt the early Phoenician city
 called Strato's Tower, in 21 BC.
The early Romans began the systemic use
 of the arch structure 
which spans a space
 and supports structure and weight below it.
The lack of fresh water at Herod's new city
 required a lengthy aqueduct to bring water from springs
 at the base of Mt. Carmel- nearly ten KM away.

"Aqueducts moved water through gravity alone,
 being constructed along a slight downward gradient
 within conduits of stone, brick or concrete.
 Most were buried beneath the ground,
 and followed its contours; obstructing peaks
 were circumvented or, less often, tunnelled through. 
Where valleys or lowlands intervened,
 the conduit was carried on bridgework,
 or its contents fed into high-pressure lead, ceramic or stone pipes
 and siphoned across.
 Most aqueduct systems included sedimentation tanks,
 sluices and distribution tanks to regulate the supply at need."
                             Wikipedia
As the population swelled- 
  one aqueduct was not enough.
 So, the Romans later built
 a second "lower" aqueduct 
and tapped into the older one 
and doubled its capacity.
 The same style and materials were used,
 so it is hard to see that the pair of tunnels
 were built in different ages.
John checking out the view
along the aqueduct.
on the sandy beach
You can walk right on the top of the structure.
sea side
The "Maritima" is added to distinguish this from 
Caesarea Philippi in the Golan Heights to the north.
A city that holds the story of 
Cornelius and Peter
in Acts 10.
Perhaps one of them stood here on the sand in this spot -
 looking out to sea and wondering about the great things
God was doing in the hearts of His people in this new time-
 encouraging them to act boldly.
And the same encouragement for ME today.

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