The ancient stones of Larnaki remember great achievements. Aqueduct Kamares rise above the city. This is not just a decoration of the landscape. This is a symbol of generosity and solving a vital problem. How did the gift of one person change the fate of the whole city?
In the middle of the 18th century, Larnaca literally died of thirst. Salted lakes around made the earth unsuitable for wells. The city was in dire need of fresh water. The solution to this problem has become a matter of honor for the Ottoman governor of Cyprus. His name was Ebubekir Pasha. He was an enlightened administrator known for his reforms. The governor committed an act that forever inscribed his name in the history of Cyprus.
Personal fund
Ebubekir Pasha decided to build an aqueduct, but did not ask for money from the Sultan. He funded grandiose construction from his personal funds. At that time, it was a whole fortune. The work was carried out for three years, from 1747 to 1750. The project was incredibly difficult. Engineers took Roman technology as a basis. The ten -kilometer system was supposed to deliver water from the distant Tremitos River. Aqueduct became a real salvation for citizens.
The engineering miracle of the XVIII century
The design is striking in its scope. It consisted not only of ground arches - most of the water conduit was hidden underground. In total, there were 75 arches in the system, some of them reached a height of 12 meters. On the arched "bridges" water flowed by gravity through the ravines. The aqueduct regularly served Larnaca for almost two hundred years. He stopped working only in 1939, giving way to a modern water supply.
Today, a stone giant no longer carries water. Its most beautiful area, consisting of 33 arches, is perfectly preserved.
Aqueduct Kamares is not just an architectural monument. This is a monument of human generosity. It recalls how one bold and kind solution can change the lives of thousands of people for centuries ahead. Take a walk along his arches and feel this connection of times.
The material was prepared by Ekaterina Andreevakanal in Telegram
