Subiaco Dams
| Subiaco Dams | |
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 Location of Subiaco Dams in Italy
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| Location | Subiaco, Lazio, Italy |
| Coordinates | 41°54′38.4″N 13°7′30.6″E / 41.910667°N 13.125167°ECoordinates: 41°54′38.4″N 13°7′30.6″E / 41.910667°N 13.125167°E |
| Opening date | Reign of Nero (54–68 AD) |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Aniene |
| Height | 50 m |
| Length | 70 m? |
| Width (base) | 13.5 m |
The Subiaco Dams were a group of three Roman gravity dams at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy, devised as pleasure lakes for emperor Nero (54–68 AD). The biggest one was the highest dam in the Roman Empire, and even in the world until its accidental destruction in 1305.
The dam was built by the Romans at Sublaqueum, modern Subiaco, in the Roman province of Latium in central Italy on the river Aniene (Lat. Anio). Sublaqueum is from the Latin sub lacu, meaning "below the lake".
The location lies some 75 km east of Rome. The simple gravity dam was constructed of masonry and stood roughly 410m above sea level.
The ancient name of the city, Sublaqueum, derives from its position below the lakes of Nero's villa. In the reign of Claudius (41 - 54) and Nero (54 - 68), the area around Subiaco formed an imperial summer residence, offering the possibility of hunting trips and parties in an idyllic landscape
Especially under Emperor Nero, luxurious villas emerged (Villa di Caccia, Villa of Horace, Villa of Trajan) stylistically foreshadowing Hadrian's Villa, which were built by the emperors themselves and by other high-ranking Roman families. As well as the high standard of living and general splendour, we also hear about systems of waterworks, extensive parklands, and festival banquets.
In order to secure the water supply of the metropolis of Rome, the aqueduct Anio Novus was erected under Trajan, at which point he built the dammed lakes as water reservoirs. For this, sources were first selected in the valley below the lakes, but these turned out to be susceptible to impurities during heavy rainfall. The construction of the dammed lakes turned out to be very advantageous; there the particles and debris in the water sunk to the lakebed and the water became pure.
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