The Hadrianic Aqueduct of Caesarea Maritima

Caesarea Maritima is one of Israel’s most famous archaeological sites. Its ruins are located by the seashore of Israel, about halfway between Tel Aviv and Haifa. It is the site of one of the most important cities in the Roman World, the capital of the Roman province of Judea. The city was founded between 22 and 10 BC by Herod the Great (37-4 BC) as an urban centre and harbour on the site of the earlier Straton’s Tower. Caesarea was populated through the late Roman and Byzantine eras. Today, the site is a large and beautiful national park and a fascinating place to visit while exploring the Holy Land.

When construction on the Judaean port of Caesarea began around 22 BC, it had no reliable source of fresh water. King Herod commissioned a raised aqueduct to deliver water from the springs near Shuni, 16 kilometres northeast of Caesarea Maritima. Today, the most impressive part of the Herodian aqueduct (known as the high-level aqueduct I) can be seen on the beach of Caesarea, north of the ancient city.

When Hadrian visited Caesarea in AD 130 on his grand tour of the eastern part of the Roman Empire, the city’s growth required additional water. Hadrian then commissioned extensive repairs and the construction of a new aqueduct. This new section (known as the high-level aqueduct II) was added to the right of the first canal, doubling its capacity. These twin parallel aqueducts continued to supply water for 1200 years.

Hadrian’s improvement on Herod’s work is evident in the section of the high-level aqueduct along the beach. The following photo shows the southern end of the aqueduct, where the two construction stages are clearly visible. The east channel of the aqueduct (right) was constructed by Herod the Great, while the west channel (left) was built during the days of Hadrian.

Several inscriptions have been discovered. They indicate that a number of legions of Judaea, or rather vexillationes (a detachment) from these legions, took part in the building task. These inscriptions mention four Roman legions active in the repair of the high-level aqueduct during Hadrian’s reign: five refer to Legio X Fretensis, two to Legio VI Ferrata, one to Legio XXII Deiotariana, and another to Legio II Traiana Fortis.

The one attached to the aqueduct close to Beit Hanania,  located about 2.8 miles north of Caesarea, mentions the Tenth Legion (Legio X Fretensis) and comprises, on the left, the legionary insignia (the legion’s emblem) and, on the right, a tabula ansata (table with dovetail handles) with the text “IMP CAES(ar) TRIAN HADR(ianus).”

A significant portion of the Hadrianic aqueduct is still visible at Beit Hanania. West of the aqueduct’s arches lies the southern side of the Herodian aqueduct, whose arches vary in width. The aqueduct continued straight while a new one, probably built at the end of the 3rd century AD, turned left and made a large detour to Caesarea.

A few more inscriptions were uncovered on the western side of the aqueduct. One inscription refers to the Twenty-Second Legion, one to the Tenth Legion, and another to the Second Legion (click on the links to see Wikipedia images).

Additional inscriptions are displayed in several museums. One inscription in the Ralli Museum in Caesarea refers to repairs carried out by the Sixth Legion.

Another dedicatory inscription, discovered in 1927, is displayed in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The six-line inscription, cut on a block of hard limestone, refers to the repairs conducted by the Tenth Legion.

A block of limestone with a tabula ansata and an inscription referring to the Sixth Legion is on display at the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem. A wreath encircles the inscription, while to the left and right of the tabula ansata, a winged Victoria stands on a globe. The entire block is a remarkably elaborate presentation of the legion’s work on the aqueduct.

A third “low-level” aqueduct was built parallel to the high-level aqueduct during the Byzantine period to satisfy the growing need for fresh water. The city reached its zenith in the 4th century, occupying approximately 150 hectares and boasting a population of around 50,000. The low-level aqueduct is the largest in Israel. It is about 5 kilometres long, 1.4 m wide, and roofed by a round barrel vault. It remained operational until the end of the Byzantine period (7th century AD).

Sources:

• Touring Israel’s ancient water systems by Tsvika Tsuk (pdf)
• romanaqueducts.info
• The Water Supply System of Caesarea Maritima by Yaacov Olami and Yehudah Peleg (Israel Exploration Journal Vol. 27, No. 2/3 (1977), pp. 127-137)