Proserpina Dam, Ancient Roman hydraulic structure in Mérida, Spain
Proserpina Dam is an ancient Roman hydraulic structure in Mérida that spans 440 meters and rises about 21 meters. The construction features a granite block surface with a sloping design that functioned as a water reservoir for the Roman settlement.
The dam was built between the 1st and 2nd centuries to supply water to Emerita Augusta, the capital of the Roman province of Lusitania. This structure demonstrates Roman engineering capabilities in managing large-scale water projects during that period.
The name comes from a plaque discovered in the 18th century that invokes the goddess Persephone, revealing how Romans connected religious beliefs to their engineering works. This link to Roman deities remains visible today and speaks to the spiritual world of that era.
The dam is accessible from the surrounding area and can be viewed from nearby vantage points. The location is best visited during cooler hours, as the site is open and offers little shade.
The dam retains its original Roman construction with nine rectangular buttresses and an earth-filled core reinforced with cement. This construction technique was advanced engineering for its time and shows how Romans built structures to last.
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