The Piscina Mirabilis (Latin "wondrous pool") is an ancient Romancistern on the Bacoli hill at the western end of the Gulf of Naples, southern Italy. It was one of the largest ancient cisterns.[1] It was built under Augustus as suggested by the building technique of opus reticulatum used in the walls.
The cistern was dug entirely out of the tuff hill and was 15 metres (49 ft) high, 72 metres (236 ft) long, and 25 metres (82 ft) wide. The capacity was 12,600 cubic metres (440,000 cu ft).[1] It was supported by vaulted ceilings and a total of 48 pillars.[1]
It was thought to be situated there in order to provide the Roman western imperial fleet at Portus Julius with drinking water,[2] but this is unlikely as the cistern is about 1 km away from the slopes of the promontory of Misenum where the military base and residential area port were located. Also, from the Augustan period the naval base was directly connected to the main Roman aqueduct, the Aqua Augusta, and did not need the cistern. More likely is that the cistern belonged to one of the many luxurious villas built in this area, like the nearby Grotta della Dragonara cistern.[citation needed]
The cistern was supplied with water from the Aqua Augusta, which brought water to most of the sites around Naples from sources in Serino near Avellino, 100 kilometres away.[1]
Water was pumped out of the cistern using machines placed on the roof terrace of the cistern, which were increased in the 2nd century AD by adding a series of supporting barrel-vaulted rooms on the north side.[citation needed]
The ancient cistern is currently in private hands, but it may be visited by the public.[2]
piscina, mirabilis, latin, wondrous, pool, ancient, roman, cistern, bacoli, hill, western, gulf, naples, southern, italy, largest, ancient, cisterns, built, under, augustus, suggested, building, technique, opus, reticulatum, used, walls, tyndall, effect, ciste. The Piscina Mirabilis Latin wondrous pool is an ancient Roman cistern on the Bacoli hill at the western end of the Gulf of Naples southern Italy It was one of the largest ancient cisterns 1 It was built under Augustus as suggested by the building technique of opus reticulatum used in the walls The Piscina Mirabilis Tyndall effect in the Piscina Mirabilis The cistern was dug entirely out of the tuff hill and was 15 metres 49 ft high 72 metres 236 ft long and 25 metres 82 ft wide The capacity was 12 600 cubic metres 440 000 cu ft 1 It was supported by vaulted ceilings and a total of 48 pillars 1 It was thought to be situated there in order to provide the Roman western imperial fleet at Portus Julius with drinking water 2 but this is unlikely as the cistern is about 1 km away from the slopes of the promontory of Misenum where the military base and residential area port were located Also from the Augustan period the naval base was directly connected to the main Roman aqueduct the Aqua Augusta and did not need the cistern More likely is that the cistern belonged to one of the many luxurious villas built in this area like the nearby Grotta della Dragonara cistern citation needed The cistern was supplied with water from the Aqua Augusta which brought water to most of the sites around Naples from sources in Serino near Avellino 100 kilometres away 1 Water was pumped out of the cistern using machines placed on the roof terrace of the cistern which were increased in the 2nd century AD by adding a series of supporting barrel vaulted rooms on the north side citation needed The ancient cistern is currently in private hands but it may be visited by the public 2 See also EditList of Roman cisterns Basilica Cistern Cistern of Philoxenos Theodosius Cistern Classis MisenensisReferences Edit a b c d The Piscina mirabilis Naples Life Death and Miracles Archived from the original on 25 May 2017 Retrieved 7 June 2017 a b Napoli Underground Piscina Mirabilis in Italian 2 March 2015 Archived from the original on 2 March 2016 Retrieved 28 February 2016 External links EditOfficial Campania Tourism SiteCoordinates 40 47 43 N 14 4 48 E 40 79528 N 14 08000 E 40 79528 14 08000 This article about an Ancient Roman building or structure is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte This article about an Italian building or structure is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piscina Mirabilis amp oldid 1112230918, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
