Marcus Agrippa, the first person to become Curator Aquarum.

The Curator Aquarum was a Roman official responsible for managing Rome's water supply and distributing free grain. Curators were appointed by the emperor. The first curator was Agrippa. Another notable Curator Aquarum was Frontinus, a Roman engineer.

History

Before the Curator Aquarum Censors managed the water supply. Emperor Augustus, as part of an initiative to develop new positions, established the position of Curator Aquarum. The purpose of this office was to maintain the water supply of Rome. Augustus appointed Agrippa as the first Curator Aquarum.[1] Aggripa was curator from 33 to 12 BC. He used a slave force consisting of 240 imperial slaves and 40 freedmen.[2] During his term, he built the Aqua Julia, repaired existing aqueducts, and established the Cura Aquarum. After the death of Agrippa, Messala Corvinus became the Curator Aquarum.[3] Emperor Claudius increased the number of the staff to 460 men.[4] Eventually this would increase to 700 men. Frontinus was also appointed as the Curator Aquarum by emperor Nerva.[5] During the 2nd Century the Curator Aquarum largely escaped the historical record. However, during the reigns of Septimius Severus and Caracalla a new position called Curator Aquarum et Minuciae was established.[5] Lucius Novius Rufius, who was the Governor of Hispania Citerior and a supporter of Clodius Albinus, a rival of Septimius Severus, held the position of Curator Aquarum et Minuciae.[6]

Roles and Powers

The Pont du Gard, a Roman aqueduct. The Curator Aquarum would have managed aqueducts such as this one.

The Curator Aquarum was generally a prominent Senator of Consular rank. Officially, they were chosen by the Senate, although unofficially the emperor always installed them. Curatores Aquarum, and their two Senatorial adiutores, or assistants, held mostly ceremonial power. They were officially given complete control over the Roman water supply and aqueducts. Despite this, no technical knowledge was expected of the curator, they were not even present in Rome for much of their term.

The curator's subordinates were workers with knowledge of hydraulics such as engineers, pavers, plasterers, and aquarii. These workers would usually make all the decisions. Although the curator still managed the salary of these workers.[7] Curatores Aquarum had the responsibility of ensuring a constant stream of water, they could have been called to clear aqueducts, they would have fined offenders who damaged the Aqueducts, they managed the trials of people who were accused of damaging aqueducts or sewers, they would have managed the construction of new buildings and public works, and they could set up new Castella for water grants. To gain access to the city's water, an epistula would have to be presented to the Curator Aquarum. The curator would pass the letter onto the procurator, who would implement the request.[5]

In Ancient Rome, free grain would be distributed to the plebians at the Campus Martius which was by the Porticus Mincuia. It is possible that the Curator Aquarum was responsible for the distribution. However, the Curator Aquarum may have only been responsible for using water to power a mill which made the grain. Other scholars contest this point of view. As the Aqua Traiana was created after the first Curatores Aquarum et Minuciae was elected.[4] Curatores Aquarum had the right to travel with two Lictors, but only whilst outside the city of Rome.[3][8] Curatores Aquarum were entitled to the toga praetexta and the sella curulis.[9][10][11]

Procurates Aquarum

Procurates Aquarum, were Roman procurators that managed the water supply. These procurator's names appear on many inscriptions in the sub cura formula, indicating an official role. However, there are a large quantity of these names. Indicating that they could not all have been procurators. Most likely, they were officials responsible for supervising public works involving the installation of a water conduit.[4]

List of Known People who have been Curator Aquarum

Name Term Appointer Source
Agrippa 33-12 BCE Augustus [3][12]
Messala Corvinus 12 BCE-13 CE Augustus
Ateius Capito 13-22 CE Augustus [8][13]
Tarius Rufius 23-24 CE Tiberius [14]
Marcus Cocceius Nerva 24-33 CE Tiberius [15][16]
Gaius Octavius Laenas 33-37 CE Tiberius [15]
Marcus Porcius Cato 38 CE Tiberius [15]
Unknown 38-46 CE Tiberius [15]
Aulus Didius Gallus 46-49 CE Tiberius [15][17]
Gnaeus Domitius Afer 49-60 CE Tiberius [15]
Lucius Calpurnius Piso 60-63 CE Nero [15]
Petronius Turpilianus 64-66 CE Nero [15]
Vibius Crispus 66-68 CE Nero [15]
Pompeius Silvanus 71-73 CE Vespasian [15]
Lucius Tampius Flavianus 73 CE Vespasian [15]
Manius Acilius Aviola 74 CE Vespasian [15]
Sextus Julius Frontinus 97 CE Nerva [15][18][19]
Lucius Valerius Messalla Thrasea Priscus 198 CE Septimius Severus [20]
Lucius Valerius Poplicola Balbinus Maximus Unknown Gallienus [21]
Gaius Caesonius Macer Rufinianus 203-213 CE Caracalla [21]
Lucius Caesonius Lucillus Macer Rufinianus 230-235 CE Alexander Severus [21]
Gaius Annius Anullinus 295 Diocletian [21]

References

  1. ^ C. Suetonius Tranquillus, Divus Augustus, Alexander Thomson, Ed.[page needed]
  2. ^ Davies, Mark Everson; Swain, Hilary (2010-04-26). Aspects of Roman History 82BC-AD14: A Source-based Approach. Routledge. p. 352. ISBN 978-1-135-15160-7.
  3. ^ a b c Taylor, Rabun M.; Taylor, Rabun (2000). Public Needs and Private Pleasures: Water Distribution, the Tiber River and the Urban Development of Ancient Rome. L'ERMA di BRETSCHNEIDER. ISBN 978-88-8265-100-8.[page needed]
  4. ^ a b c Erdkamp, Paul (2013-09-05). The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Rome. Cambridge University Press. p. 303. ISBN 978-0-521-89629-0.
  5. ^ a b c Coulston, J. C.; Dodge, Hazel (2000-12-01). Ancient Rome: The Archaeology of the Eternal City. Oxbow Books. ISBN 978-1-78297-502-1.
  6. ^ Mennen, Inge (2007). "The Caesonii in the third century A.D.: The impact of crises on senatorial status and power". Crises and the Roman Empire. pp. 111–124. doi:10.1163/ej.9789004160507.i-448.22. ISBN 978-90-474-2090-3. curator aquarum, p. 124, at Google Books
  7. ^ de Kleijn, Gerda (2001). "Water consumption: Legislation, supervision, and fistulae". The Water Supply of Ancient Rome. Brill. pp. 92–146. doi:10.1163/9789004502307_007. ISBN 978-90-04-50230-7. S2CID 244142444. curator aquarum, p. 102, at Google Books
  8. ^ a b Frontius, Sextus (2003). De Aquaeductu Urbis Romae [On the Water-Management of the City of Rome]. Translated by Rogers, R.H. The University of Vermont.
  9. ^ Romolo A. Staccioli, "Acquedotti, fontane e terme di Roma antica", Newton & Compton, Rome, 2005[page needed]
  10. ^ Peachin, Michael (2004). Frontinus and the Curae of the Curator Aquarum. Franz Steiner Verlag. ISBN 978-3-515-08636-3.
  11. ^ Taylor, Rabun (2010). "Bread and water: Septimius Severus and the rise of the curator aquarum et Miniciae". Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome. 55: 199–220. JSTOR 41419693.
  12. ^ Evans, Harry B. (1 July 1982). "Agrippa's Water Plan". American Journal of Archaeology. 86 (3): 401–411. doi:10.2307/504429. JSTOR 504429. S2CID 193123951.
  13. ^ Tacticus, Annals 3.75.1
  14. ^ Parkin, Tim. G., Old Age in the Roman World: A Cultural and Social History (2003), p. 119
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Rodgers, R. H. (1982). "Curatores Aquarum". Harvard Studies in Classical Philology. 86: 171–180. doi:10.2307/311193. JSTOR 311193.
  16. ^ Hillard, T.W.; Beness, J.L. (December 2015). "The Ancestry of Nerva". The Classical Quarterly. 65 (2): 756–765. doi:10.1017/S0009838815000105. JSTOR 43905710. S2CID 170166770. ProQuest 1747415531.
  17. ^ CIL VI 1248. "Hac rivi aquar(um) / trium eunt cippi / positi iussu / a Didi Galli / T(iti) Rubri Nepotis / M(arci) Corneli Firmi / curatorum aquar(um)"
  18. ^ Kerschbaum, Saskia (2021). "Romanization and Beyond: Aqueducts and Their Multilayered Impact on Political and Urban Landscapes in Roman Asia Minor". The Impact of the Roman Empire on Landscapes. Brill. pp. 154–172. doi:10.1163/9789004411449_009. ISBN 978-90-04-41144-9. JSTOR 10.1163/j.ctv29sftx7.13. S2CID 244481377.
  19. ^ de Kleijn, Gerda (2008). "Review of Frontinus and the Curae of the Curator Aquarum". Gnomon. 80 (4): 367–369. JSTOR 40494709.
  20. ^ Mennen, Inge, Power and Status in the Roman Empire, AD 193-284 (2011)[page needed]
  21. ^ a b c d Mennen, Inge (2011). "Excursus. Prosopography of the Senatorial Elite Families". Power and Status in the Roman Empire, AD 193-284. Brill. pp. 83–134. doi:10.1163/ej.9789004203594.i-306.23. ISBN 978-90-04-20359-4. JSTOR 10.1163/j.ctt1w76vsp.10.
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