An aqueduct too far
A team of archaeologists has found tangible evidence for the premature abandonment of Roman Armenia.
Archaeologists from the University of Münster, Germany, and the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia discovered remains of a Roman arched aqueduct during excavations at the Hellenistic royal city of Artashat-Artaxata in what was the province of Armenia.
Excavations took place in 2019, but the report on the finds has only now been published in the Archäologischer Anzeiger (1H.2021) as “Failed Roman Imperialism: An unfinished Roman aqueduct at Artaxata in Armenia”.
“The monumental foundations are evidence of an unfinished aqueduct bridge built by the Roman army between AD 114 and 117,” said Professor Achim Lichtenberger. “At that time, Artaxata was destined to become the capital of a Roman province in Armenia.”
Trajan (AD 98-117) annexed Armenia in AD 114 after declaring war against the Parthians. It represented a quick victory for the Romans. “The planned,
