Water in the Arena: Hydraulic Engineering in the Roman World

In this paper the use of complex architectural and engineered systems used to flood arenas such as the colosseum at Rome in order to stage naval battles will be discussed. This will be done in order to evaluate how spectacular or impressive this would have been at the time by referencing primary sources, as well as comparing different archaeological findings pertaining to the subject. There are various suggestions throughout secondary and primary sources that these were mostly pageantry, as well as some indication that these spectacles were about as brutal as any seen in an arena of the era. The questions as to why and how people such as the Romans and perhaps others participated in such complex and costly feats as these will be addressed and notable examples provided along with a chronological overview of significant changes to these practices over time as well as their changing cultural significance. Naval battles such as these are mentioned by the primary sources Martial and Cassius Dio in which they are referred to as the naumachiae. Analysis by modern engineers will also be invaluable in determining the accuracy of the claims of these authors. The sea is immeasurably important to many cultures around the world and the classical world was no exception to this. Prowess in naval warfare often meant the protection of vital trade goods and supplies for colonies and new settlements.