Floods of the Tiber in Ancient Rome

Figures and Tables

Figures and Tables xiii Figures 1.1. Representation of Father Tiber 13 1.2. Map of the main geographic features of ancient Rome 34 1.3. The Roman Forum seen through the Arch of Septimius Severus during the flood of 1902 36 1.4. Drawing by J. H. W. Tischbein of the Pantheon during the flood of 1686 37 1.5. Map showing depth of fill and rubble at Rome 42 1.6. Topographic map of Rome at the time of Augustus 44 1.7. Topographic map with 10 masl flood 45 1.8. Topographic map with 15 masl flood 47 1.9. Topographic map with 20 masl flood 48 1.10. Map of Rome with 20 masl flood, flooded sites mentioned in primary sources, and major Augustan structures 49 Figures and Tables xiv 2.1. Typical hydrograph 53 2.2. A section of the Tiber River between Rome and Ostia 55 2.3. A flood marker commemorating the flood of 1530 56 2.4. Map of the Tiber drainage basin 57 2.5. Hydrograph of the flood of December 1870 65 2.6. Frequency of major floods at Rome per century 74 2.7. Estimated population of Rome from 600 BC to the present 78 2.8. The Pons Fabricius during the flood of 1937 87 2.9. The Pons Fabricius at normal Tiber level 88 3.1. Drawing by J. H. W. Tischbein of the interior of the Pantheon during the flood of 1686 94 3.2. The Roman Forum partially flooded during the inundation of 1902 96 3.3. The remaining arch of the Pons Aemilius nearly submerged during an unidentified flood 116 4.1. The commercial Emporium district 134 4.2. The Horrea Galbana 140 4.3. Section of the Aqua Claudia 153 5.1. The outlet of the Cloaca Maxima where it empties into the Tiber 171 5.2. Bust of Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa 172 5.3. Map showing some major Roman drains 174 5.4. Aerial view of the eastern end of the Roman Forum during the flood of December 1900 179 Figures and Tables 5.5. A section of Roman embankment and quay in the Emporium district 195 5.6. The continuous near-vertical walls of the modern Tiber embankments 197 6.1. The Forum Boarium, including round temple, during an inundation 206 6.2. Map of political, commercial, and entertainment centers of Rome plotted against 20 masl flood 207 6.3. Map of major bath complexes plotted against a 20 masl flood 209 6.4. Section of the modern Tiber embankment that protects the city from floods 226 A.1. Section of the Tiber in Rome before construction of the modern embankments 250 A.2. Stretch of the Tiber above the Ponte Garibaldi 251 Tables 1.1. List of known ancient floods 15 2.1. Tiber flood classification scheme 62 2.2. Seasonal distribution of floods at Rome 68 2.3. Frequency estimates of floods at Rome, 414 BC to AD 1870 73 2.4. Major postmedieval floods at Rome with known or estimated peak water levels greater than 15 masl 86 6.1. Domus on hills 214 6.2. Domus in flood-prone areas 215 A.1. Major floods at Rome, 414 BC to AD 2000 242–246 xv This page intentionally left blank ...