The Aqueduct of Valens: Water for Constantinople

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Constantinople, a city built on a dry promontory, quenched the thirst of its growing population. They follow the path of the Aqueduct of Valens, a massive fourth-century system that carried water from the hills of Thrace over 250 kilometers through bridges, tunnels, and underground channels. Lucas explains how Emperor Valens completed the project in 368 AD, how the aqueduct delivered water to cisterns like the Basilica Cistern and the Binbirdirek Cistern, and how the system functioned for over a thousand years despite earthquakes, sieges, and neglect. They discuss the role of the water commissioner, or hydraulicus, and the clever engineering of inverted siphons and terracotta pipes. The episode also touches on the aqueduct's later life under the Ottomans, who restored and maintained it, and its lasting mark on Istanbul's landscape. Along the way, they uncover a 2010 archaeological discovery that revealed a forgotten branch of the network. A candid moment about listener support helps keep the show ad-free.

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