Differences between Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

1. Differences between Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts A short explanation and a comparisson by W.D. Schram MSc

2. Overview • Introduction on Roman aqueducts • Introduction about Persian qanats • Comparison • An example Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

3. Aqueducts: definition An aqueduct is a channel or pipeline to transport water over a greater distance, from a water source to its destination: often a city, sometimes a farm, factory or mill; there the water is distributed. Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

4. Aqueducts: basic elements Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

5. Aqueducts: tunnels A masonry channel inside a tunnel (Cave de Curé, Gier aqueduct, Lyon, France) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

6. Aqueducts: bridges One of the bridges in an aqueduct of Perge (Turkey), fully covered with calcareous deposits Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

7. Aqueducts: arcade Two aqueduct channels (70 and 88 km long, mainly subterranean) on top of a series of arches (Rome, Italy) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

8. Aqueducts: the users Local fountain (Gerasa, Jordan) Baths (reconstruction) (Xanten, Germany) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

9. Roman aqueducts: some 1500 Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

10. Qanats: definition A qanat is a combination of - an infiltration gallery or mother well that collects water from an aquifer, and - an underground tunnel, connecting a series of vertical shafts, to transport water by gravity to the surface for direct consumption and / or irrigation. Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

11. Qanats: basic elements Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

12. Qanats: construction Muqanni Clay rings for reinforcements Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

13. Qanats: from the air Persepolis Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

14. Qanats: channel and shafts Qanat shaft (near Yazd) Shaft tops Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

15. Qanats: bridge One of the few qanat bridges. This one is from Kharanaq. Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

16. Qanats: distribution in Iran Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

17. Qanats: distribution worldwide Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

18. Qanats: in Europe ?? A water supply system in Walferdange (Luxemburg) with a stepped channel and access shafts Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

19. Qanats: the users Place to scoop water Water distribution Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

20. Side step: water storage Water storage site Entrance Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

21. Comparison 1: Physical Geography Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

22. Comparison 2: Technology Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

23. Comparison 3: Societal Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

24. Example:Hadrian’s aqueduct in Athens Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

25. Example The major factor applied to Hadrian’s aqueduct Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

26. Conclusions • Hadrian’s work had some elements in common with a typical qanat, but it was an aqueduct • In general: Although there are some similarities, qanats and aqueducts are quite different water supply systems Why is this important? There is enough misunderstanding of the word qanat. Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts

27. Problems ?! Tehran (2009 CE) Nonius Datus (150 CE) (Saldae, Algeria) Differences Persian qanats and Roman aqueducts