Caesarea Aqueduct
Roman engineers · Caesarea, Israel · 130
The Caesarea Aqueduct is an ancient water supply system built to provide fresh water to the city of Caesarea Maritima. Constructed primarily during the Roman period, it exemplifies Roman engineering prowess, utilizing gravity to transport water from springs in the Carmel Mountains to the city. The structure consists of multiple sections, including tunnels and overhead arched channels, demonstrating adaptive solutions to varied terrain. Its construction began around the 1st century CE under Herod the Great, with significant expansions and repairs occurring in subsequent centuries, notably during the Hadrianic period and later by Byzantine and Islamic rulers. The aqueduct's presence was crucial to the development and sustained prosperity of Caesarea, a major port city and administrative center in antiquity, serving both its large population and various public amenities.