De aquis urbis Romae

history by Frontinus

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June 25, 2026

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De aquis urbis Romae (Concerning the Waters of the City of Rome) is a historical work by Sextus Julius Frontinus, written around 100 CE. It details the history and description of Rome's water supply system, including laws related to its use and maintenance.1

Frontinus, who served as Rome's superintendent of aqueducts, provides technical information on the city's eleven major aqueducts. These structures, built over centuries, brought water from distant sources to Rome, with most of the system consisting of underground channels rather than the iconic stone arches. While Roman aqueducts were engineering marvels that significantly improved public health, many residents still lived in overcrowded conditions without adequate water access.12345

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Sextus Julius Frontinus
…of Britain, and author of De aquis urbis Romae (“Concerning the Waters of the City of Rome”), a history and description of the water supply of Rome, including the laws relating to its use and maintenance and other matters of importance in the history of architecture.
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…of Britain, and author of De aquis urbis Romae (“Concerning the Waters of the City of Rome”), a history and description of the water supply of Rome, including the laws relating to its use and maintenance and other matters of importance in the history of architecture.
Read More