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Pont du Gard: Ancient Aqueduct in France

Learn about the Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct built during the reign of Augustus. Discover its purpose, construction, and civic functions.

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Pont du Gard: Ancient Aqueduct in France

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  1. 1 (i)Identify this structure. (ii) What were such structures used for? [ACH] (i) Pont du Gard (ii) To carry water. Both parts of the answer are needed

  2. (2) (i) When was this structure erected? (ii)Who commissioned it? [ACH] (i) Reign of Augustus – c. 19BC . (ii) Agrippa. Both parts of the answer are needed

  3. (3) Identify the TWO towns that were the start and end point of this structure. Start point: End point:[ACH] Start point: Uzès End point: Nimes Both needed

  4. (4) (i) What was the gradient of this structure? (ii) Give ONE reason why this gradient was important to its purpose. [ACH] (i) 1:3 000 over the entire length of the aqueduct. OR The drop over the actual Pont du Gard is 11 cm over 275 m. (ii) Any ONE of the following: • It ensured the water arrived at its destination by the use of gravity. • It meant the water flowed at a reasonable pressure, protecting the water channel it was carried in. • It meant the water flowed at a reasonable pressure, protecting the water tower it arrived at. Both (i) and any ONE point from (ii) are required for Achievement. Other answers possible for both (i) and (ii).

  5. (5) Identify TWO features of its design that lessened the effect of the river current. [MER] • Triangular wedges on bottom piers. • Central bottom piers set in the bedrock. • Central archway is wider over the main flow of the river. Any ONE correct answer needed for Achievement.

  6. (6) Explain in detail THREE procedures involved in the process of building this structure. [MER] • The building of the bottom piers deeper than the ones above to support the weight. • The construction of an arch with voussoirs / wedge-shaped stones and a keystone in the middle, placed last. • The use of centering where wooden scaffolding supports the weight of the stone blocks until the keystone is in place. • Bosses or projecting stones used for scaffolding and left for future repairs. Other points might include a description of the duct, economy of construction, use of weight, not clamps, prefabrication, and number of arches. Any ONE point. THREE points.

  7. (7) Evaluate the civic and political functions of the structure shown in Reproduction D. You must make FOUR detailed points. [MER] Civic and Political functions: • shows Roman order established in the provinces; the aqueduct was a conspicuous symbol of Roman engineering • commemorates the achievements of Augustus’ son-in-law / Agrippa, who visited Nimes when he was governor of Gaul • unites people of Nimes to the centre of empire as they have the same urban facility as Romans • provides a constant water supply for private houses, baths and other public facilities in a growing town • provides Romans living in Gaul with facilities that they would have been used to in Rome, possibly making them less resentful of time in the provinces. THREE functions must be described in total. In addition there must be some evaluative component to the answer. Eg ‘It showed Roman order established in the provinces ... It was clearly successful in this since the structure continued to function as an aqueduct for many years and the structure has, in fact, outlasted the people by whom it was built.’

  8. (8) (i) Discuss in detail FOUR features of the arch that made it particularly suitable for use in this structure. (ii) Choose TWO of these features and evaluate how effectively they have been used in the design of the Pantheon. [EXC] (i) Features of the arch: • stability – once buttressed (as it is by the sides of the gorge) it was self-supporting and stable • strength – any weight carried by the arch was spread down the piers and, where the arches were added together to form a vault, great weights were supported • could be made from local materials – in this case, locally quarried limestone • simple to construct – large numbers of slaves under the direction of few supervisors • the spaciousness that the opening of the arch allowed was useful for reducing wind resistance • the open interior space was also economical, reducing the cost of building material. (ii) Evaluating use in the Pantheon, for example strength: The arch’s strength was used effectively in the design of the Pantheon. The architect embedded brick arches in the exterior walls of the rotunda to give added strength to the massive concrete walls that had to support the dome. THREE points are required for the features of the arch and ONE point concerning the effectiveness of the arch as part of the design of the Pantheon.

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