In ancient Rome, the Piscina Publica ("Public Pool") was a public reservoir and swimming pool located in Regio XII. The region itself came to be called informally Piscina Publica from the landmark. [1] The piscina was situated in the low-lying area between the Via Appia, the Servian Wall, and the northeast slope of the Aventine Hill, an area later occupied by the Baths of Caracalla. [2]
There is some disagreement as to whether the reservoir was fed by one of several springs in the immediate area [3] or by the Aqua Appia, the first public aqueduct built by Appius Claudius Caecus. [4] Located just inside the Porta Capena, [5] it was the first site for both communal water distribution and sports. [6] The aqueduct supplied water for wool processors near the piscina. [7]
Mention of a piscina publica was first made in 215 BC, [8] when the two city praetors moved their tribunals to the site, near where the Senate was meeting with generals to discuss the ongoing Hannibalic War. [9] A reference in Festus indicates that it no longer existed in the 2nd century. [10]
In ancient Rome, the Piscina Publica ("Public Pool") was a public reservoir and swimming pool located in Regio XII. The region itself came to be called informally Piscina Publica from the landmark. [1] The piscina was situated in the low-lying area between the Via Appia, the Servian Wall, and the northeast slope of the Aventine Hill, an area later occupied by the Baths of Caracalla. [2]
There is some disagreement as to whether the reservoir was fed by one of several springs in the immediate area [3] or by the Aqua Appia, the first public aqueduct built by Appius Claudius Caecus. [4] Located just inside the Porta Capena, [5] it was the first site for both communal water distribution and sports. [6] The aqueduct supplied water for wool processors near the piscina. [7]
Mention of a piscina publica was first made in 215 BC, [8] when the two city praetors moved their tribunals to the site, near where the Senate was meeting with generals to discuss the ongoing Hannibalic War. [9] A reference in Festus indicates that it no longer existed in the 2nd century. [10]