About us
Supplying people with water and transporting it via supply networks has always been critically important for the development of civilization. More than 4000 years ago, impressive structures for water supply and sanitation were built. Remains of these complex water supply systems still bear witness to the high level of ancient engineering today.
The use of water to create energy has also played an outstanding role since the beginning of civilization. Water power continues to play an important role in providing energy to the modern world.
It is therefore important that knowledge about the history of water and energy generation as well as about supply systems is preserved and further promoted. These are the tasks and goals of the Frontinus Society.
In the Frontinus Society archaeologists, historians, engineers, architects, members of other disciplines work together with people interested in the history of water, energy and piping technology. Through this interdisciplinary cooperation, the Frontinus Society possesses comprehensive competence in all relevant fields. The Frontinus Society has a broad international network of knowledge holders, experts and people interested in water history. Our members come from a total of 19 countries, from Australia to Canada.
Our society is named after Sextus Julius Frontinus , who was responsible for the water supply of Rome around 100 years AD, in his role as a Curator Aquarum. He wrote the first reference book on water supply.
The Frontinus Society is a non-profit organization. You can find the statutes of our association here .
Tasks & Goals
- Knowledge transfer through publications, lectures, excursions, and the Frontinus website
- Holding of national and international conferences and colloquia
- Access to an extensive library on the history of water, energy, and pipeline technology
- Support for students and young researchers, e.g., through scholarships, study awards, and professional support
- Support for bachelor’s and master’s theses and dissertations
- Support for research projects (application to the office)
- Cooperation with national and international institutions in the fields of archaeology and the history of technology, such as university institutes, museums, and associations
Who was Sextus Julius Frontinus?
Sextus Julius Frontinus (born about 30 AD) served as governor in Britain, Lower Germany,and as proconsul for the province of Asia (Hierapolis and Smyrna). In 97 AD he was appointed Curator Aquarumof the city of Rome and was mainly responsible for the city’s water supply. It is likely that he continued in this position until his death around 103 AD. Based onhis first-hand knowledge, he wrote adetailed description of Rome’s water systems. This text has survived in full to the present, and describes the operation and maintenance of the city’s water systems, as well as the responsibilities and requirements for maintaining this complex network. It shows how intricatethe water supply in Rome was.
Sextus Julius Frontinus, his work “De Aquaeductu Urbis Romae” and his person are presented in the volume “The Water Supply in Ancient Rome” in Latin and German, published in the book series “History of Water Supply” by the Frontinus Society.
Executive Board, Scientifice Committee and Office
At the 43rd General Meeting on April 12, 2024, in Rheinbach, the Board of Directors of the Frontinus Society was newly elected. The Scientific Advisory Board of the Frontinus Society advises the Board on matters of science and research. Its members are appointed by the Board.
Contact persons and experts
This section is currently under construction.
Honours
Society history
In the 1950s and 1960s (i.e. after the end of the Second World War), there was a clear disenchantment with history in Germany, since the memory of recent events was too painful to deal with. Moreover, during these years of economic up-swing, people had their hands full rebuilding the country and creating a degree of prosperity. However, at the beginning of the 1970s, a period of social upheaval began, which was responsible for kickstarting the need to return to history. People began to see that the impact of our actions also had increased significantly.
„Only those who know history have a future.“
This famous quote by Wilhelm von Humboldt was adopted by nine scholars who met on 16 October 1976 in the “Professorenstübchen” in the Haus der Technik in Essen. They set up a technical-historical society, the FRONTINUS-GESELLSCHAFT.
The task of the Frontinus Society was to promote knowledge about the history of water and energy supply technology as well as pipeline technology. The Frontinus Society has been successfully fulfilling this task for almost 50 years now.
Partners and Links
