In the archaic (750-480 B. C.) and the classical (480-323 B. C.) periods of the Greek civilization, aqueducts, cisterns, and wells were similar to those built by the Minoans and Mycenaeans. However, the scientific and engineering progress during those stages enabled the construction of more sophisticated structures. One of the most famous is the tunnel of Eupalinos (530 B. C.) on Samos Island, the first deep tunnel in history that was dug from two openings with the two lines of construction meeting near the middle. The construction of this tunnel, which served the water supply of Samos, was made possible by the progress in geometry and geodesy that was necessary to implement two independent lines of construction that would meet (Koutsoyiannis et al., 2007).
There are several other known aqueducts in Greek cities as water supply was regarded as an essential and necessary infrastructure of any city. For safety reasons, aqueducts were always subterranean, either tunnels or trenches. At the entrance of the city, aqueducts would branch in the city and would feed cisterns and public fountains in central locations. Along in the bottom of trenches or tunnels of aqueducts, pipes usually made from terracotta were laid, allowing for protection. One, two or more pipes in parallel were used depending upon the flow to be conveyed. The terracotta pipe segments (20-25 cm in diameter) fit into each other and allow access for cleaning and maintenance by elliptical openings (Fig. 1.8) that were covered by terracotta covers. This is one indication of the awareness that the Greeks had for hygienic conditions (Koutsoyiannis et al., 2007).
The Peisistratean aqueduct, constructed in Athens during the time of the tyrant Peisistratos and descendents ca. 510 B. C. This aqueduct carried water from the foothill of the Hymettos mountain (probably from east of the present Holargos suburb) for a distance of 7.5 km to the center of the city near the Acropolis (Tasios, 2002). Figure 1.8 Illustrates the pipe segments. Many wells and later cisterns were needed for the water supply system. The greater part of the aqueduct was carved as a tunnel at depths reaching 14 m. Other parts of the aqueduct were constructed as a
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