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How to Draw a Roman Aqueduct

The ancient Romans constructed aqueducts to carry clean water throughout towns and cities. Probably one of the most important of Roman inventions, the aqueducts involved multiple layers of arches, which acted as supports. Inside the aqueducts were pipes, most of which were made of lead, that carried the water from rivers and lakes to the cities. Drawing these aqueducts can be tricky, but it is not impossible with a bit of patience.

Things You'll Need

Pencil
8 1/2-by-11-inch sheet of paper
Ruler
Colored pencils

Instructions

- 1
  Locate a picture of a Roman aqueduct from a book or reliable website. Having a guide to follow will make the entire drawing process much easier.
- 2
  Draw three parallel lines. The bottom of the page, which should be landscape oriented, will act as the ground upon which the aqueduct is built. The first line, which should be parallel to the "ground," should extend about one-third of the way up the page, or about 3 inches. The second line should be about 2 1/2 inches from the first, and the third line should be about 1 1/2 inches from the second line.
- 3
  Create the bottom arches. In the bottom third of the page, draw three or four arches with tops that reach to about half an inch from the first line. The legs of the arches should not touch one another, but should have about 1/4 inch of space in between them.
- 4
  Sketch the middle arches. Between the first and the second lines, draw four or five arches with tops that reach to about 1/3 inch from the second line. The legs of the arches should not touch one another but should have about 1/4 inch of space in between them.
- 5
  Draw the top arches. Between the second and third lines, draw six or seven arches with tops that reach to about 1/4 inch from the third line. The legs of the arches should not touch one another but should have about 1/4 inch of space in between them.
- 6
  Color in all of the area around the arches.

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