Analysis of Robert Harris' Pompeii
The Water Runs Through It Robert Harris? Pompeii is thoroughly researched, informative, and filled with suspense. Attilius, the Aquarius and of the Aqua Augusta, is the main character. Attilius overcomes many obstacles and survives several life and death situations. Through Attilius we learn the ineer workings, technical details, and pictorial descriptions of the Aqua Augusta.
The novel begins on August 22, A.D 79 at 04:21 hours. The twilight overhead turns into blistering heat creating irritable moods and dense air. Attilius is frustrated with his men and dissatisfied with the slow progression of the days work. ?Attilius, an old straw hat pulled low over his face, worked hardest of all. Even when the others crept off occasionally to sprawl in whatever patches of shade they could find, he continued to sway his ax. The shaft was slippery with his sweat and hard to grip. His palms blistered. His tunic stuck to him like a second skin. But he would not show weakness in front of the men. Even Corax shut up after awhile.? (12) A strong heritage of aqueduct engineers is why Attilius is so knowledgeable of water and the Aqua Augusta. Although Attilius is very young, he is placed in a very important position as Aquarius. Attilius knows every inch of the aqueduct. He maintains, repairs and bonds with the aqueduct. Attilius knows where the aqueduct begins its journey and where all of the pipes are that connect to it. Attilius knows, ?the aqueduct captured the springs of Serinus and bore the water westward ? it channeled it along sinuous underground passages, carried it over ravines on top of tiered arcades, forced it across valleys through massive siphons ? all the way down to the plains of Campania, then around the far side of Mount Vesuvius, then south to the coast at Neopolis, and finally along the spine of the Misenum peninsula to the dusty naval town, a distance of some sixty miles, with a mean drop along her entire length of just two inches every one hundred yards.?
The novel begins on August 22, A.D 79 at 04:21 hours. The twilight overhead turns into blistering heat creating irritable moods and dense air. Attilius is frustrated with his men and dissatisfied with the slow progression of the days work. ?Attilius, an old straw hat pulled low over his face, worked hardest of all. Even when the others crept off occasionally to sprawl in whatever patches of shade they could find, he continued to sway his ax. The shaft was slippery with his sweat and hard to grip. His palms blistered. His tunic stuck to him like a second skin. But he would not show weakness in front of the men. Even Corax shut up after awhile.? (12) A strong heritage of aqueduct engineers is why Attilius is so knowledgeable of water and the Aqua Augusta. Although Attilius is very young, he is placed in a very important position as Aquarius. Attilius knows every inch of the aqueduct. He maintains, repairs and bonds with the aqueduct. Attilius knows where the aqueduct begins its journey and where all of the pipes are that connect to it. Attilius knows, ?the aqueduct captured the springs of Serinus and bore the water westward ? it channeled it along sinuous underground passages, carried it over ravines on top of tiered arcades, forced it across valleys through massive siphons ? all the way down to the plains of Campania, then around the far side of Mount Vesuvius, then south to the coast at Neopolis, and finally along the spine of the Misenum peninsula to the dusty naval town, a distance of some sixty miles, with a mean drop along her entire length of just two inches every one hundred yards.?