Ύδωρ βασιλεύς Αδριανός εσήγαγεν εκ Στυμφήλου [The Hadrianic Aqueduct of Corinth and the transportation of water in Roman times]

The book by archaeologist Yannis Lolos on Hadrian’s Aqueduct in the prefecture of Corinth is a significant contribution to the study of the political solutions and technical methods used to supply urban centres with water during Roman times. This major engineering work, which originated at Stymphalia’s sources and  after a trajectory of some 85kms  ended in the ancient city of Corinth, was carried out during the rule of Hadrian (117-138); the work is mentioned by the traveller Pausanias as early as the mid-2nd century. In all probability, the aqueduct ended in a central reservoir situated close to the city but at a higher level; it is also considered probable that an underground reservoir/summit pool existed so as to filter the water and ensure its proper distribution. The aqueduct’s elevated and underground sections included an arched conduit, ditches, tunnels, viaducts and water bridges, as well as settling tanks. The accompanying drawings and, more obviously, the photographs the book includes reveal, respectively, the initial picture and the state of the architectural remains in the early 1990s, when the archaeological field survey was carried out.