Looking at water shortage from a roman point of view: a survey of literary sources and epigraphical attestations from italian regiones

This paper underlines the need for a complete view, taking into account not only the technological features but also the social aspects, in the analysis of ancient waterworks. Water shortage seems a proper topic to propose a reflection on the value of water in different places during Roman time: the literary sources reflect the difference in habits between the authors and the inhabitants of the Italian settlements. Moreover, taking into account the epigraphical evidence of euergetism linked with water systems and their locations, underlines the deep influence that socio-political aspects had in the relation between Romans and water.