Connections to the Pompeii water supply network: artisanal and commercial establishments as places that consume water

Abstract

Analyses of the urban distribution of the water supplied from aqueducts have generally focused on those elements directly referred to by Vitruvius (De Arch. 8.6.2): fountains, baths and houses. However, excavations in Pompeii, which has one of the best-preserved water supply networks from antiquity, have revealed that other places also benefited from these connections, including those with an artisanal or commercial purpose. This paper compiles the available information related to water supply in Pompeii and complementary data from new field documentation. It analyses the distribution of these artisanal and commercial establishments in the town and draws attention to their significance and impact on the design and operation of its water supply network.