Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
description
Transcript of Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
A short explanation and a comparissonby W.D. Schram MSc
Overview
Introduction on Roman aqueductsIntroduction about Persian qanatsSpecial topicsComparison
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: basic elements
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: tunnel
Note: a masonry channel
inside a tunnel (Cave de Curé, Gier aqueduct, Lyon, France)
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 a banknote of 5 euro
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)
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
The Roman empire
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: some 750
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: the usersLocal fountain (Gerasa, Jordan)
Baths (reconstruction)(Xanten, Germany)
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Aqueducts: examples
Tunnel and pipes Akcay tunnel(550 BCE) (Side, Turkey) (Samos, Greece)
Water distribution(Pompeii, Italy)
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: basic elements
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: channel and shaftsQanat shaft (near Yazd) Shaft tops
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: from the air
Persepolis
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: the users Place to scoop water Water distribution
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: works of artQanat bridge (Kharanaq, Yazd)
Ice house(Yazd)
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: distribution worldwide
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: distribution 1
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: distribution 2Tehran (ca 1960 CE) Isfahan (1942 CE)
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: distribution 3Tafilalt (Maroc) Qanats in Syria
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: in Europe 1Madrid (Spain) = Madjira = place of qanats
Near Selb and Asch (Germany)
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: in Europe 2The qanat of Walferdange (Luxemburg) with stepped channel and access shafts
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Qanats: construction
Muqanni Clay rings for reinforcements
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Storage Water storage site Entrance
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
CoolingWind towers Technique
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Ice house Meybod Cross-section
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Subterrenean damDam in a qanat (Vazvan) Cross-section
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Subterranean water mill
Horizontal water wheel
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Comparison 1Element Iranian qanat Roman aqueduct
Climate Mainly in arid regions In arid and semi-arid regions
Source Aquifer River, spring or dam (by exception: well or aquifer)
Place in the landscape
100% subterranean 20% above ground (arcades, substructions)
Construction Shafts every 50 – 100m plus connecting channel
Masonry channel (or pipe), sometimes in qanat construction (shaft every 35 – 70 m)
Course Straight line Sinuous, following the contour lines
Works of art Exceptional: subterranean dams
Bridges, tunnels, arcades, siphonsPersian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Comparison 2Element Iranian qanat Roman aqueduct
Users Public and farmers (private houses, bath houses?)
Public and bathhouses. Also: houses, farmers, ornamental fountains (grainmills)
Distribution Channels and sluices; for irrigation timesharing
Distribution stations plus lead pipes inside the towns
Status Utilitarian / lifeline Additional to other sources (wells, rainwater); luxury (Baths); showcase (Show of pride and power)
Builders Well paid specialists Slave specialist, contractors, sometimes support from the military
Ownership Coorperative ( 10 – 250 p)
Town councilPersian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Comparison 3Element Iranian qanat Roman aqueduct
Finance Members of the cooperation
Local meacenas, the emperor, twon council
Surplus water (only in winter): ? To flush the sewers and toilets, fullers
Storage Local in modest volumes
No, only behind some large bath houses (e.g. Rome)
Basics: - cross-section - typical length - typical discharge - typical depth - typical fall
0,6 – 1,2 m10 km2.000 m3/day10 – 50 m0,07 – 0,1 %
0,6 – 1,2 m20 km20.000 m3/day5 m0,1 – 0,5 %
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Conclusions
Although there are similarities, qanats are quite different from roman aqueducts
Most striking: the difference in the sourcesqanat(s) are often the only source of waterRoman aqueducts are all out of use
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Problems ?!Tehran (2009 CE)Nonius Datus (150
CE) (Saldae, Algeria)
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Usefull websites
The International Center on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures (ICQHS) in Yazd: http://www.icqhs.org/English/Default.aspx
The Water Museum in Yazd is part of the ICQHSYoutube film about qanats:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieBVMOPRYJ0
Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts
Thank you Wilke Schram