The Gadara Aqueduct, also called Qanatir Fir'awn[1] or Qanat Fir'aun (Pharaoh's Watercourse), was a Roman aqueduct supplying water for some of the cities of the Decapolis. It serviced Adraha (known today as Dera'a in Syria), Abila (at Wadi Queilebh in Jordan), and Gadara (modern-day Umm Qais in Jordan).[2] The aqueduct has the longest known tunnel of the Classical era.
Flooded section of the Qanat Fir'aun
There was one section of more than 106 kilometres (66 mi), constructed with qanat technology. In this special case, nearly all the shafts were diagonal at 45–60 degrees, with stairs to the real water channel inside the mountain. The line went along steep slopes and collected water from sources around the area. The first visitor who rode along the "Kanatir" was U. J. Seetzen in 1805.[3]
There are gradients of 0.3 metres per mile (0.2 m/km; 1.0 ft/mi) for the tunnel section. The aqueduct starts at a Roman dam in Dilli (al-Dali, also spelled el-Dilli, Eldili, ad-Dili, c. 7 km north of the sub-district residence town of Al-Shaykh Maskin, Izra District, Daraa Governorate, Syria). From there, this part of the aqueduct line crosses several wadis via five-to-ten-metre-high (15–35 ft) bridges. During the last few decades, more than three kilometres (2 mi) of the remaining substructions were demolished on the plains between Dilli and Dera'a near the Syria-Jordan border.[4]
East of Adraha was a 35-metre (115 ft) bridge. The remains of the bridge now can be found on the ground of the new Al Saad Dam located at the eastern suburbs of Dera'a. After a junction point with a side channel from the Muzayrib lake, the underground aqueduct begins. Three water systems have been found near Gadara (Umm Qais). The first and second were built with qanat technology, and the third[5] was built as a channel along a street. It is believed that all three systems were used, but each at a different period.[6]
Beneath the classical city of Adraha was an underground city, and was also part of the aqueduct. The inhabitants of the city collected water by jars on ropes, from the underground channel. Today, however, there is no sign of the "underground city" which was described by Wetzstein in 1860[7] and G. Schumacher in 1896.[8][9]
^Döring, Mathias; Radler, Siegfried (2015), "Stau- und Wasserkraftanlagen", Taschenbuch der Wasserwirtschaft, Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, pp. 637–721, doi:10.1007/978-3-8348-8216-5_11, ISBN9783528125806
^Seetzen, U.J. (1854). Syrien;Palästina I.Band(PDF) (edited by Kruse ed.). Reimer. p. 58;61.
^"The Qanatir". Decapolis Aqueduct. J.Kleb. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
^Döring, Mathias "Qanat Fir'un - Documentation of the 100 Kilometres Aqueduct Tunnel in Northern Jordan. Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan, Amman, Jordan 2009, pp. 153–165.
^Wetzstein, Johann Gottfried (1860). Reisebericht über Hauran und die Trachonen. Berlin: Reimer.
^Schumacher, Gottlieb (1889). Across the Jordan. London: A.P. Watt. p. 135ff.
^"Adraha's main Aqueduct Line". Decapolis Aquaeduct. J.Kleb. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
Bibliographyedit
Döring, Mathias, "Qanat Firaun. 106 km langer unterirdischer Aquädukt im nordjordanischen Bergland, Schriften der Deutschen Wasserhistorischen Gesellschaft, Vol. 10 (2008), pp. 1–16
Döring, Mathias, "Wasser für die Dekapolis - Jordanisches Bergland birgt längsten bisher bekannten Aquädukttunnel. Ein Zwischenbericht. Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Forschungs Cluster 2, Berlin 2012, 225-243.
Döring, Mathias, "Wasser für die Dekapolis. Römische Fernwasserleitung in Syrien und Jordanien. Deutsche Wasserhistorische Gesellschaft Vol. S 12, 2016, pp. 1–248, ISBN978-3-9815362-3-2.
Döring, Mathias, "Roman Water Systems in Northern Jordan", Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on the History of Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering in the Mediterranean Region (Ephesus, Oct. 2004), Österreichisches Archäologisches Institut, Sonderschriften, Vol. 42 (Leuven, 2006), pp. 237–243
External linksedit
Media related to Gadara Aqueduct at Wikimedia Commons
Rome's tremendous tunnel. The Ancient World's Longest Underground Aqueduct, Spiegel Online
Qanat Fir'aun, the more than 150 km long Decapolis Aqueduct in Syria and Jordan, Jens Kleb International
gadara, aqueduct, also, called, qanatir, qanat, pharaoh, watercourse, roman, aqueduct, supplying, water, some, cities, decapolis, serviced, adraha, known, today, dera, syria, abila, wadi, queilebh, jordan, gadara, modern, qais, jordan, aqueduct, longest, known. The Gadara Aqueduct also called Qanatir Fir awn 1 or Qanat Fir aun Pharaoh s Watercourse was a Roman aqueduct supplying water for some of the cities of the Decapolis It serviced Adraha known today as Dera a in Syria Abila at Wadi Queilebh in Jordan and Gadara modern day Umm Qais in Jordan 2 The aqueduct has the longest known tunnel of the Classical era Flooded section of the Qanat Fir aunThere was one section of more than 106 kilometres 66 mi constructed with qanat technology In this special case nearly all the shafts were diagonal at 45 60 degrees with stairs to the real water channel inside the mountain The line went along steep slopes and collected water from sources around the area The first visitor who rode along the Kanatir was U J Seetzen in 1805 3 There are gradients of 0 3 metres per mile 0 2 m km 1 0 ft mi for the tunnel section The aqueduct starts at a Roman dam in Dilli al Dali also spelled el Dilli Eldili ad Dili c 7 km north of the sub district residence town of Al Shaykh Maskin Izra District Daraa Governorate Syria From there this part of the aqueduct line crosses several wadis via five to ten metre high 15 35 ft bridges During the last few decades more than three kilometres 2 mi of the remaining substructions were demolished on the plains between Dilli and Dera a near the Syria Jordan border 4 East of Adraha was a 35 metre 115 ft bridge The remains of the bridge now can be found on the ground of the new Al Saad Dam located at the eastern suburbs of Dera a After a junction point with a side channel from the Muzayrib lake the underground aqueduct begins Three water systems have been found near Gadara Umm Qais The first and second were built with qanat technology and the third 5 was built as a channel along a street It is believed that all three systems were used but each at a different period 6 Contents 1 Claims of underground city 2 See also 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksClaims of underground city editBeneath the classical city of Adraha was an underground city and was also part of the aqueduct The inhabitants of the city collected water by jars on ropes from the underground channel Today however there is no sign of the underground city which was described by Wetzstein in 1860 7 and G Schumacher in 1896 8 9 See also editAncient Roman technology Roman engineering List of aqueducts in the Roman Empire List of Roman aqueducts by dateReferences edit van Donzel Emeri Johannes 1994 Islamic Desk Reference BRILL p 24 ISBN 9789004097384 Retrieved 10 July 2020 Doring Mathias Radler Siegfried 2015 Stau und Wasserkraftanlagen Taschenbuch der Wasserwirtschaft Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden pp 637 721 doi 10 1007 978 3 8348 8216 5 11 ISBN 9783528125806 Seetzen U J 1854 Syrien Palastina I Band PDF edited by Kruse ed Reimer p 58 61 The Qanatir Decapolis Aqueduct J Kleb Retrieved 31 December 2021 Doring Mathias Qanat Fir un Documentation of the 100 Kilometres Aqueduct Tunnel in Northern Jordan Annual of the Department of Antiquities of Jordan Amman Jordan 2009 pp 153 165 Qanat Fir aun Dekapolis Aquadukt Qanat Fir aun www dekapolis aquaedukt de in German Retrieved 2018 10 25 Wetzstein Johann Gottfried 1860 Reisebericht uber Hauran und die Trachonen Berlin Reimer Schumacher Gottlieb 1889 Across the Jordan London A P Watt p 135ff Adraha s main Aqueduct Line Decapolis Aquaeduct J Kleb Retrieved 31 December 2021 Bibliography editDoring Mathias Qanat Firaun 106 km langer unterirdischer Aquadukt im nordjordanischen Bergland Schriften der Deutschen Wasserhistorischen Gesellschaft Vol 10 2008 pp 1 16 Doring Mathias Wasser fur die Dekapolis Jordanisches Bergland birgt langsten bisher bekannten Aquadukttunnel Ein Zwischenbericht Deutsches Archaologisches Institut Forschungs Cluster 2 Berlin 2012 225 243 Doring Mathias Wasser fur die Dekapolis Romische Fernwasserleitung in Syrien und Jordanien Deutsche Wasserhistorische Gesellschaft Vol S 12 2016 pp 1 248 ISBN 978 3 9815362 3 2 Doring Mathias Roman Water Systems in Northern Jordan Proceedings of the 12th International Congress on the History of Water Management and Hydraulic Engineering in the Mediterranean Region Ephesus Oct 2004 Osterreichisches Archaologisches Institut Sonderschriften Vol 42 Leuven 2006 pp 237 243External links edit nbsp Media related to Gadara Aqueduct at Wikimedia Commons Rome s tremendous tunnel The Ancient World s Longest Underground Aqueduct Spiegel Online Qanat Fir aun the more than 150 km long Decapolis Aqueduct in Syria and Jordan Jens Kleb International Gadara Jordan romanaqueducts info 32 40 51 N 35 52 09 E 32 6808 N 35 8691 E 32 6808 35 8691 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gadara Aqueduct amp oldid 1142524402, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
