Aqueducts are one of the wonders of the Roman Empire. These graceful structures ... For additional information about enabling Java on your computer, see NOVA's Technical Help.

Peter Aicher is an Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Southern Maine and one of the Roman experts who assisted NOVA in the making of the documentary, "Secrets of Lost Empires ...

NOVA: The arcades are what come to mind as one of the signatures of the Roman Empire. Why did the Romans seem to have a love affair with arcades? AICHER: The aqueducts were largely a gravity system.

Pressurized pipe (inverted siphon) When faced with a deep valley, Roman engineers should use pressurized pipes that are inverted siphons. Roman water engineers build these rather than arcades ...

Roman baths were much more than public places to bathe. They also were social centers where friends, families, and business colleagues came to meet—and to eat. Snack food and drink were an ...