|
|
The Romans built a large cistern connected to the Serino aqueduct,
providing an abundant fresh water reserve sufficient for the needs of the
ships and the garrison in the Misenian basin. It is an immense rectangular
tank excavated in the tufo bank 70 metres long, 25.50 wide and 15 metres
deep. The vault is supported by arches and 48 huge rectangular pilasters
arranged in four rows. It is lined with a thick layer of “pounded
terracotta”, regarded to this day as an excellent hydraulic cement for
lining cisterns; a hard thick crust of calcareous sediment from the Serino
water can still be seen. This water entered it on the east side and as
there is apparently no other opening, it must have been raised by means of
water-weels up to the terrace and thence conducted to a large tank built
at the foot of the hill on the left side of the port of Misenum, probably
in a place called “Case Vecchie” as some ruins show. The water then was
put in amphoras, water-skins or other containers, loaded on boats and
transported to the ships in the port. |
