Monuments of the Past – Object #3

Roman bridge over the Gard, constructed by Agrippa, Nimes, France

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<p>The photograph contains a three tiered stone bridge with a series of arches on each tier. The bottom two tiers are the same size in terms of height and the sizes of the arches. The top tier is smaller in height and arch size. The bridge spans a river, which flows in the bottom of a ravine. The bottom tier is the shortest in length and the top two are longer in order to span the ravine.</p>

Photograph of the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct. Built in the first century AD in order to carry water from a spring to a Roman colony.

Questions:

Why was this aqueduct important?  

How do people today get their water? How is this similar to and different from the ways people got water in the past?

What conclusions can you draw about the culture of the people who built this aqueduct?

Citations

Roman bridge over the Gard, constructed by Agrippa, Nîmes, France. , ca. 1890. [Between and Ca. 1900] Photograph.