DOI issue:
Heft 7
DOI article:Crouch, Dora P.: The water system of Palmyra
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26421#0189
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4*1 1 1 1 1 •?» *£ 4* 4> 4* <ę 4*
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Fig. 26. Plan and section of aąueduct (by Wood)~
section of the sewer under the South Tetrapylon at Gerasa is reproduced here.
These pipes were laid about one meter underground, and are two meters deep
and one meter wide. In the paving of the streets, stone manholes are still visible
which give access to the drains belo w. The streets themselves were provided
with drain holes at the curbs. This kind of arrangement is found also at Petra,
and I saw a few drainholes and manholes at Palmyra, as well as Gerasa, so I
think we can safely conclude that these were the usual arrangements in the
Koman cities. Most notably, near Diocletian’s Bath a square manhole leads
to the sewer beneath the Grand Colonnade.
The other sewer at Palmyra lies beneath Baalshamin Street. It may be
dated no later than 88 A. D., from the inscribed altar above it69.
Sewer lines connecting the fountains with the main sewer under the street
have been discovered at all three fountains. There is also a great drain from
the pool of Diocletian’s Bath into the main sewer.
CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER QUESTIONS
Fom this sketchy account of the elements of the water system at Palmyra,
we see that there are several open ąuestions, owing to the fact that the sys-
tem has not really been studied as a distinct entity, in the way for instance
that the water system at Petra has been studied. The main ąuestions are:
what is the connection between elements of the system? To what period
69 Conversations with As"ad and Bounni.
185
4*1 1 1 1 1 •?» *£ 4* 4> 4* <ę 4*
3>
Fig. 26. Plan and section of aąueduct (by Wood)~
section of the sewer under the South Tetrapylon at Gerasa is reproduced here.
These pipes were laid about one meter underground, and are two meters deep
and one meter wide. In the paving of the streets, stone manholes are still visible
which give access to the drains belo w. The streets themselves were provided
with drain holes at the curbs. This kind of arrangement is found also at Petra,
and I saw a few drainholes and manholes at Palmyra, as well as Gerasa, so I
think we can safely conclude that these were the usual arrangements in the
Koman cities. Most notably, near Diocletian’s Bath a square manhole leads
to the sewer beneath the Grand Colonnade.
The other sewer at Palmyra lies beneath Baalshamin Street. It may be
dated no later than 88 A. D., from the inscribed altar above it69.
Sewer lines connecting the fountains with the main sewer under the street
have been discovered at all three fountains. There is also a great drain from
the pool of Diocletian’s Bath into the main sewer.
CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER QUESTIONS
Fom this sketchy account of the elements of the water system at Palmyra,
we see that there are several open ąuestions, owing to the fact that the sys-
tem has not really been studied as a distinct entity, in the way for instance
that the water system at Petra has been studied. The main ąuestions are:
what is the connection between elements of the system? To what period
69 Conversations with As"ad and Bounni.
185