1. Architectural description

An impressive Roman aqueduct has been discovered south of Selçuk. It crossed the ancient river Marna (modern Dervend Dere) and it was constructed along an E-W orientation.

This was a well-built aqueduct over 16 m. in height, with two rows of arches, one over the other; these rows of arches were not arranged so as to be precisely aligned. More specifically, the lower row comprised three large arches¹ measuring 5.20 m. in width, while six smaller arches² of the upper row (2.75 m. in width) were arranged in such a manner that two arches covered the width of each arch of the lower row. In Roman aqueducts, when they feature two successive rows of arches, these rows are precisely aligned one over the other. In this example from Ephesus the arrangement of the arches is different and is reminiscent of the manner of arranging the two upper rows of arches in one of the best preserved Roman aqueducts, known as Pont du Gard close to the city of Nimes (ancient Nemausus) in southern France.³

The river’s water flowed through the east arched opening of the aqueduct, while the central arch probably supported the road which lead to Magnesia on the Maeander. Another road apparently crossed through the west arched opening.⁴

The aqueduct’s arches were built of marble blocks in the pseudo-isodomic system. The lateral walls flanking the rows of arches were made of small stones held together with mortar.⁵

The architectural form of the two main sides of the aqueduct was similar, with very few differences. The rows of arches were supported by sturdy buttresses with a rectangular cross-section (pilasters). The supports of the upper row of arches rested at the middle of the lower row arches. The fronts of the arches were undecorated and were framed by simple cymae, while the imposts, which intervened between the pilaster capitals of the supports and the skirt of the arch, bore cymae on their four sides. Over the upper row of arches a protruding cornice and an (Attic) parapet were formed -no trace of the latter remains-, where the stone water conduit was placed.⁶

2. Dating

On both main sides of the aqueduct, the western section of the lower row of arches supported a horizontal epistyle, which bore a dedicatory inscription in Greek and Latin. This inscription mentions that the monument -which is termed a bridge-, was donated by C. Sextilius Pollio, his spouse Ofillia Bassa and his adopted son C. Ofillius Proculus and was dedicated to Augustus, Tiberius, Ephesian Artemis and the Demos of the Ephesians.⁷ The mention of the name of Tiberius places the construction date of the structure to 4-14 AD. The monument’s architectural details support this dating.⁸

3. Function and significance of the aqueduct

The Romans, innovators in the field of engineering, managed to solve the problem of providing adequate water to their densely populated cities by constructing aqueducts. Furthermore, the construction of aqueducts constituted one of the foremost priorities of imperial building programs. These were impressive pieces of architecture and were especially functional, improving the quality of life of city dwellers.⁹ The Ephesus Aqueduct, preserved in a good state today, represented an important project of great practical and aesthetic value. It forms part of the ‘Aqua Throessitica’, which was the name of the water supply system funded by Hadrian. It crossed through the city’s outskirts carrying water to Ephesus and supplied the so-called ‘Administrative Block’ and the city’s nymphaea.¹⁰

4. History of research

The monument is mentioned by 18^th century travellers who visited the area, like Chandler,¹¹ who describes it as a bridge. Choiseul-Gouffier, on the other hand, correctly identified it as an aqueduct and sketched a drawing of the monument.¹² The aqueduct’s architectural form and details of its construction have been published by W. Wilberg in the third volume of the Austrian Institute’s excavation reports from Ephesus.¹³ Because of its date it has been included by W. Alzinger in his study on the architecture of the Augustan era at Ephesus.¹⁴