The Tunnel of Eupalinos was built in the 6th century BC in Samos Island, Greece to serve as an aqueduct. The tunnel is the first with a geometry-based approach in doing so. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage.
The central section of the tunnel is 1036 m. long and its average dimensions are 1,80 x 1,80 m. The depth from the summit of the mountain is 180 m. and it is situated 55 m. above sea level. It consists of a corridor and a trench alongside (its depth varies from 3,80 m. in the northern end to 8,90 m. in the southern end). It also has a 0,6% deviation so as to facilitate the natural flow of the water. Along the modern road, the ancient pipeline that led to the fountains of the town has been found.
The amazing achievement of the tunnel's construction is that it was dug by two crews of stonemasons, working simultaneously, one in the North and one in the South. They eventually met in the middle of the mountain with only a small deviation from the straight line. It took about 8-10 years to complete the tunnel as the workers only used chisels and hammers. For light, they used oil lamps which made the conditions even worse. Eupalinos designed and achieved the construction of the tunnel using simple devices for measurements and the well-known principles of geometry. Apart from the names of the workers, on the walls, there are words, letters and simple marks as proof of these measurements.
More info: liamageiraphotostories.smugmug.com
