By Milena Bacharnikou
In southern Epirus, near present-day Preveza, Nikopolis was in Roman times, the ancient "Nikopolis" perhaps the largest ancient city in Greece. It was founded in 30 BC. from October to August in remembrance of the victorious naval battle of Aktio and relatively soon its population reached 300,000 inhabitants!
The ancient "Vouthroton" in present-day Albania and the ancient "Dion" in the prefecture of Pieria compete in size with Nikopolis. That is why they built very important public works there. Roman walls with defensive towers, Bouleuterion, Commercial Buildings, Amphitheater, Baths (Thermae), Monument of Augustus Octavian with integrated 36 pistons of ships of Cleopatra, Theater of Augustus Octavian (2,000 seats), (10,000 seats), R , but the main technical project is the 50 km long Roman aqueduct with which they brought drinking water from the springs of Agios Georgios - above Filippiada - to Nikopolis.
The Roman aqueduct
At the northern end of the Louros valley, near the village of Ag. George, north of Philippi, dominates the Roman aqueduct of ancient Nikopolis. Large mountains with rocky outcrops rise above the river and the arches of the aqueduct. The Roman aqueduct was built after the founding of Nikopolis by Octavian-Augustus (1st century BC - 1st century AD) to ensure the water supply of the new city.
It took decades to do this work, and it is said that tens of thousands of slaves worked. The initial part includes an arched air transport system (bridge) to bypass the Louros ravine (visitable), then there is a dug tunnel on the hill opposite (preserved and can be visited), and the project continues to the village of Archangelos where there is also an aerial arch transport bridge (visitable) and then through the hills of Nea Samsounta and the Preveza Canal the water reached Nymfaion Nikopoleos, a masterpiece of Aqueduct - Temple, which fortunately survives in good condition today (visitable).
In particular, the aqueduct consists of a pipeline 50 km long that transported water from the springs of Louros, to the two tanks of Nymphaeum of Nikopolis. Three methods were used to build the pipeline:
- groove carving with arched sealed cover and square ventilation openings,
- opening of a tunnel in the area of Kokkinopilos,
- construction of pillars that bridged sections between hills and led the water to Nikopolis.
Fixing - restoration works were carried out from 1978 to 1980, on the pedestals of the arches of the aqueduct bridge, near the springs of Louros, in Agios Georgios, Preveza.
The Romans in most of their aqueducts used to build a reservoir near the springs before they started transporting water to maintain a constant flow and pressure. The water was transported by the well-known arched sections that with a slope of 1: 1000 ensured a constant flow.
Transport was not very easy as three different types of pipes were used. The longest length was with a groove dug or carved (where necessary) covered with an arched sealed built-in cover and ventilation and cleaning openings at intervals.
In the area of Kokkinopylos, a tunnel had to be opened and in many places bridges (as in the photo next to it) allowed the transported water to pass over natural obstacles.
The aqueduct of Nikopolis was large enough to cover the needs of the city for months. The aqueduct of Nymphaeum was supplied by the same pipeline. During the reign of Emperor Julian (361 AD-363 AD) the Roman Aqueduct and other public buildings were repaired. During the early Christian era (300 AD - 400 AD), and especially during the reign of Emperor Theodosius I (379-395 AD), Nikopolis was subjected to Barbaric invasions, its commercial activities were reduced and the inhabitants turned to the agricultural sector and built a new wall. ) which spatially limited the city as an area.
»In the grove suburb»
Unfortunately, the fortification and defense of Nikopolis was not at a correspondingly high level and became an easy target for looting by Goths, Saracens and Bulgarians until it was completely destroyed and abandoned. However, it continued to be the capital of a huge province that was named after Diocletian "Old Epirus".
Finally, it is worth noting that today in the archaeological site of Nikopolis there are many ruins of houses, public buildings and temples. In the so-called "En alsie suburb" located in the community of Nikopolis (Smyrtoula) with its hill, there is the gymnasium, the Octavian theater (on the National Road Preveza Arta) which is preserved and its tent and 25 rows of hollow seats, the market, the stadium (at the entrance to the left of the community of Nikopolis) and the impressive aqueduct with 4 pipes that brought water from the sources of the river Louros to Agios Georgios, the North and the South Thermae.
In fact, if the plan to transform it into an "Archaeological Park of Nikopolis" is implemented, in combination with the operation of the "New Archaeological Museum of Nikopolis" with the help of the Fourth Community Support Framework as announced, Nikopolis will become the most visited ancient city in Hellas.
