Roman civil engineering by brewgirlca
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Description
Ok, so this is no where near pretty and it doesn't look very interesting. But it is an amazing bit of engineering. Faemike is often presenting wierd objects and asking us to guess what they are or their function. So taking inspiration from him I am asking you to guess WTF is this?
I'll give you a few clues. The next series of shots are going to focus on a Roman bath house/sauna complex in Perge. And this "thing" is an integral part of such a structure. In fact so integral were they that they numbered in the 100s or more. Slaves were involved in making them work.
The answer will come on Thursday, after my 4th of July tribute.
Previous Perge
"Helens of Perge"
"Helens of Perge"
Comments (19)
sure is odd, some sort old shale slats or hmmm?, why they be stacked that way, only one can guess.
Opening to an aqueduct?
Has it anything to do with the heating or cooling of the baths ?:)
I'm thinking like Odile - they were heating stones, heated by the fires below the pool. Because they're thin, they heated up faster, heated each other and held the heat? Oh, oh now we have two of you playing guessing games :) It may not be one of your prettiest shots, Roxy but it's very interesting! I'm not overly fond of the Roman Empire but I do have to admire their engineers.
I think this one is really cool Roxy and you're right about what an amazing piece of engineering it is.
Very interesting.
Air was forced through shafts beneath the baths. As the air seeped up between these layered stones, it would create small pockets of air which would rise to the surface of the water. Baths of this sort were very popular, and eventually, Rome became world-famous for creating the very first (non-flatulant) bubble-baths. Ok, not really... but I had fun making it up.
has something to do with heating the water or filtering it? at first sight, I was thinking maybe it's like a trap that you find in pyramids? I wouldn't be surprised if there is some form of treasure under all those smaller stones.
Great capture
I am intrigued Roxy! lovely shot!
I won't hazard a guess Roxy... but I do know the Romans were geniuses when it came to many things. A great capture and an intriguing question. Thanks for making the old neurons bounce around for a moment.
nice little change up by rotating the picture 90 degrees my guess is this is an access to the fire chambers to keep the waters hot
Was thinking along the lines of the hot bath. Where the skin is then scraped clean by some hired hand at the bath or a hand already in ones service! The volume allowed doesn't seem like much in this image for a bath so maybe it's more for the creating of steam?
Yep, I think heating too. The thin rocks makes me also think along those lines. Thanks for the puzzle and Happy 4th.
Interesting. I believe the image was rotated to add to the confusion. Part of the heating system, possibly even an entrance to the fireplaces.
Oh, I'm betting on heating or maybe a drain?
Intriguing, I'm not even going to hazard a guess as to what it might be at this point. I shall await anxiously the answer though (just hope that answer comes before tomorrow afternoon as I may be off line for a few days).
I suspect the stones were heated by slave-tended fires. I vaguely remember seeing something on History Channel a few years ago about Roman engineering - which was quite advanced... Hmmmm.... Looking at that brick in the upper right corner.... You did rotate this didn't ya?? :-D Very cool shot, Roxy!
A water outlet?