Augustus' inscription of the Serino aqueduct / Aqua Augusta

Untill 1938 the construction of the Serino aqueduct was credited to Claudius. Based on the inscription below from the 4th c AD (317 - 326) it is thought that Augustus was the builder; perhaps Claudius was reponsible for the extension to Misenum.
The stone of marble was found in 1938 near the Acquaro source and measured 186 x 86 cm and was 17 cm thick. In 1940 the two pieces were built into a wall of a building in Naples but disappeared. It was last seen by Mariniello in 1981.

As it reads on the inscription:

DD. NN. FL. CONSTAN
TINVS MAX. PIVS
FELIX VICTOR AVG.
ET FL. IVL. CRISPVS ET
FL. CL. CONSTANT.N.S
NOBB.     CAESS.
FONTIS AVGVSTEI
AQVAEDVCTVM
LONGA    INCVRIA
ET VETVSTATE CONR.PT.M
PRO MAGNIFICENTIA
LIBERALITATIS CONS.ETAE
SVA PECVNIA R.F.CI IVSSER.NT
ET VSVI CI.TAT.M INFRA
SCRIPTARVM REDDIDERVNT
DEDICANTE CEIONIO IVLIANO VC
CONS. CAMP. CVRANTE
PONTIANO V. P. PRAEP. EIVSDEM
AQVAEDVCTVS
NOMINA CIVITATIVM
PVTEOLANA NEAPOLITANA NOLANA
ATELLANA CVMANA ACERRANA
BAIANA MISENVM

CIL X 1805 - Source: SGOBBO I., Notizie degli scavi di Antichita 1938, p. 75ff


As it reads in Latin:
Dd. nn. Fl. Constantinus Max. Pius Felix Victor Aug. et Fl. Iul. Crispus et Fl. Cl. Constant[i]n[u]s, nobb. Caess. fontis Augustei aquaeductum longa incuria et vetustate conr[u]pt[u]m pro magnificentia liberalitatis cons[v]etae sua pecunia r[e]f[i]ci iusser[u]nt et usui ci[vi]tat[iu]m infra scriptarum reddiderunt, dedicante Ceionio Iuliano uccons. camp. curante pontiano u. p. praep. eiusdem aquaeductus, nomina civitatium Puteolana, Neapolitana, Nolana, Atellana, Cumana, Acerrana, Baiana, Misenum

Source: De relatie van de keizers Claudius, Nero en Trajanus met de Italische steden", thesis in Dutch of G. Meire (1998) note 234


As it reads in English:
Our Lords the Emperor Constantine the great, pious, successful and victorious and Flavius Julius Crispus and Flavius Claudius Constantinus, most noble Caesars, have ordered the aqueduct of the Augustean spring that had been ruined by long neglect and old age to be restored on their costs by their usual greatness and generosity, and they have given back its use to the towns described below. Inaugurated by Ceionius Julianus, most noble Lord, consul [governor] of Campania. Carried out by Pontianus, most excellent Lord and overseer of the said aqueduct.
The names of the towns are Puteoli, Napels, Nola, Atella, Cuma, Acerra, Baia and Misenum.

Translation: C.W. Passchier


As it reads in Italian:
I nostri Signori Flavio Costantino Massimo Pio Felice Vittore Augusto e i nobili figli di Cesare, Flavio Giulio Crispo e Flavio Claudio Costantino ordinarono che fosse rifatto a loro spese, per la loro magnificenza, l'acquedotto della fonte augustea andato fuori uso per la lunga incuria ed antichità e lo restituirono all'uso delle città sotto scritto; lo inaugurò Ceionio Iuliano, uomo illustrissimo, Consolare della Campania; se ne occupè Ponziano, uomo perfettissimo, sovrintendente dello stesso acquedotto; i nomi delle città sono: Pozzuoli, Napoli, Nola, Atella, Cuma, Acerra, Baia, Miseno.

Source: PhD-thesis dr. Angela Fusco (2013) pag 84-85 (paragraph 2.3.2)

HOME More literature on more aqueducts Last modified: July, 2007 - (webmaster)