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The Roman Aqueduct
The Roman Aqueduct of Ermioni was built during the 2nd century AD, when the town flourished under Roman rule. It was an important engineering achievement that supplied the inhabitants with fresh water, transporting it from a spring outside the town to Ermioni. The aqueduct extended for approximately 3 kilometres, carrying water through a specially constructed channel that relied entirely on gravity. It supplied the town with an estimated 300–500 cubic metres of water each day. By taking advantage of the natural slope of the terrain, the Romans demonstrated their remarkable expertise in engineering and the construction of large-scale public works. Today, sections of the aqueduct survive on the hills of Prophet Elijah and Mylon Hill (Ancient Pronos), helping us understand how this impressive system functioned nearly 1,800 years ago. One of its best-preserved sections can be seen as you leave Ermioni on the road to Kranidi. Look to your left, just above the level of the pavement, where the remains are clearly visible. Together with public fountains, wells, and cisterns, the aqueduct formed part of the ancient water supply system of Ermioni, providing its inhabitants with one of life's most precious resources: fresh water.
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Από πού έβρισκαν νερό οι κάτοικοι της Ερμιόνης πριν από περίπου 1.800 χρόνια;
During the Roman Empire, Ermioni was a thriving town with a substantial population. To supply its inhabitants with fresh water for everyday life, the Romans constructed an impressive engineering work: the Roman Aqueduct.
The aqueduct was completed during the 2nd century AD and extended for approximately 3 kilometres. It carried water to the town through an underground channel, without the use of pumps or machinery. Roman engineers carefully calculated the gradient of the terrain so that the water could flow naturally by gravity alone.
The aqueduct is estimated to have supplied between 300 and 500 cubic metres of water each day. Although smaller than many other Roman aqueducts, it was more than sufficient to meet the needs of ancient Ermioni.
Archaeologists believe that the water most likely originated from the Pikrodafni area, although this has not yet been conclusively proven. Along its route, the aqueduct passed through Prophet Elijah Hill and Mylon Hill (Ancient Pronos), where a small rectangular reservoir formed part of the town’s water supply system.
The water supply of ancient Ermioni did not rely solely on the aqueduct. The inhabitants also used public fountains, wells, and numerous cisterns—particularly in the Bisti area—to collect and store water. The exact relationship between the aqueduct and these cisterns remains unknown today.
Several sections of the aqueduct still survive on the lower slopes of Pronos Hill and Prophet Elijah Hill. Visitors can see parts of the water channel, retaining walls, arches, and other structural elements that reveal the remarkable engineering skills of the Roman builders.
Supplementary Material:
(Source: Gatsos, 1996.)
(Source: Papavasileiou, 1988.)