La rete idrica del suburbio sud-orientale di Roma: l’acqua come chiave interpretativa dell’uso del suolo e dei modelli insediativi (I-V secolo d.C.)

This paper analyses the relationship between the water supply of the south-eastern suburbium of Rome and the functional destination of this area. The analysed area is bounded to the north by the via Praenestina, to the south by the via Latina, and is extended eastwards up to the ancient 6th mile. It was characterized by a strong agricultural vocation (from the Late Republic) and, since the 2nd century AD, by a high density of villas, many of which are located along the route of the aqueducts or served by secondary branches. In fact, this portion of the suburbium was a privileged area from the point of view of water availability: of the eleven aqueducts that supplied the city in the 3rd century AD, six ran along the route of the via Latina to converge to the area of Porta Maggiore – Spes Vetus. Due to its altitude, this area is strategic for the capillary distribution of water in the urban tissue. Therefore, the need to enter the city in an elevated area and the location of the springs from which the pipes came influenced the route of the aqueducts, leading to the conspicuous presence of water supply in this portion of the suburbium. In turn, the settlement and functional network of the south-eastern suburbium seem to have been outlined in response to the presence of the aqueducts, which can be interpreted as “attractors” of various functions. Here we try to verify the applicability of the concept of agency to water and hydraulic infrastructures to demonstrate their active role in the choice and development of the land-use patterns of the area.