Looking at water shortage from a Roman point of view: a survey of Literary sources and epigraphical attestations from Italian regiones

The paper aims to underline the need of 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 of habits between the authors and the inhabitants of the Italian settlements. Moreover, taking into account the epigraphical evidences of euergetism linked with water systems and their location, underlines the deep influence that socio-political aspects had in the relation between Romans and water.