The Fountain of Armés alternatively called the Fountain of the Moors , is a 1st century fountain built by Lucius Iulius Maelo Caudicus

Lucius Iulius Maelo Caudicus

Lucius Iulius Maelo Caudicus, born in 10 B.C., in the Olisipo region of Granja dos Serrões. The name Caudicus indicates an indigenous origin, who came to importance as the the duumviri of Olisipo, and later, the flamen of the cult of Augustus....

, a Olisipo

Olisipo

Municipium Cives Romanorum Felicitas Julia Olisipo was the ancient name of modern day Lisbon while part of the Roman Empire....

 flamen

Flamen

In ancient Roman religion, a flamen was a priest assigned to one of fifteen deities with official cults during the Roman Republic. The most important three were the flamines maiores , who served the three chief Roman gods of the Archaic Triad. The remaining twelve were the flamines minores...

, to honour the Roman Emperor Augustus

Augustus

Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...

, in the village of Armés

Armes

Armes may refer to:*Armes Beaumont, singer* Armes, Nièvre, commune in France...

, civil parish of Tarregum in Sintra

Sintra Municipality

Sintra , located in the central Lisbon Region, is a municipality consisting of several civil parishes and two urbanized cities and known for many of its 19th century Romantic architecture, which resulted in its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site...

.

History

It is suggested that the tank and fountain were constructed in the 1st century A.D.

Recent analysis by Cardim Ribeiro suggests that the inscription was altered in relation to its original position, in order to facilitate acceess to the tank. Even today, the fountain continues to be used.

Architecture

Located in an urban environment, the fountain is located three metres below the actual level of the ground, decorating the southern wall section and covered by a slab of concrete, and accessible from a staircase.

The rectangular fountain, 213 centimetres by 231 centimetres in height, is formed from various slabs of granite in a square form with overhang inscribed in Latin

Latin

Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

. The latin inscription reads: "L. I V L I V S. M A E L O. C A V D I C. F L A M. D I V I. A V G D S F", translated as "Lucius Iulius Maelo Caudicus, flamen of the Divine Augustus

Augustus

Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...

, made this (monument) at his own expense".

The part of the left lateral wall is a thicker, broader and irregular slab, seemingly primitive in origin. The ends of the lateral walls have been warn from over use. A subterranean conduit, which ends in a circular hole near the right edge of the posterior wall, 85 centimetres from the bottom, brings water to the tank. It has been modernized to include a manual pump to force water to the tank.