Water distributor 1

Thomas Staub

A secondary distribution box is situated to the west of the basin in front of the large nymphaeum in the peristyle. This box deviated the water to three different pipes, all equipped with a tap. They were feeding the fountains in the rear wall of the nymphaeum, the jets in the upper rim of the basin parapet wall and the two fountains that frame the viewing axis of room g. Considering the plausible hypothesis advanced above, that the fountain system had a secondary enlargement (including the water jets in the western portico and the row on top of the basin wall), it seems probable that it was for their benefit that the second distribution box to the west of the basin was installed, possibly as a replacement of an earlier one. In this way, the addition of new fountains could be managed without major plumbing works.