engleski

Construction of Diocletian's aqueduct in late Antiquity and its landscaping today

Diocletian’s aqueduct is a rare example of a Roman building still in use today. It is situated on the Split peninsula which belonged to the ager salonitanus. The aqueduct took water from the river Jadro, 9 km northwest from the Diocletian’s Palace and brought water to the Palace and surrounding village. It was built in the late 3rd and early 4th century. Due to the specific conditions of the landscape its route ran partially underground. The best preserved part of the aqueduct is located at the entrance to present-day Split, and consists of arches 16 meters high. Experts have calculated that it could take up to 1.1 million m3 of water per day and its height difference of end points is 33 m. Diocletian’s aqueduct is specific because it was in function for several centuries – during the Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages and then in 1877-1880 it was rebuilt for the residents of Split. In this paper we would like to present the construction of the aqueduct, changes that have occurred in its construction over time and until today, as well as the landscape where the aqueduct was built. The purpose of its construction was to supply the Palace with water. Remains of a fountain and two bath complexes at the Palace indicate that the water had been used for many different purposes. Recently, some experts have developed a theory about the existence of a gynaeceum at the Palace. In this paper we would also like to consider the usage potential of the aqueduct inside the Palace, from the period of its construction to the moment when it was disabled and abandoned.

Diocletian’s aqueduct; Jadro; Late Antiquity; construction; landscape

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