Pilae

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title: "Pilae" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["ancient-roman-architectural-elements"] topic_path: "general/ancient-roman-architectural-elements" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilae" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/88/Wall_painting_from_Stabiae,_1st_century.jpg" caption="Wall painting from Stabiae showing harbour with ''pilae'', 1st century"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Parco_archeologico_di_Baia_-_portus_Julius_2.jpg" caption="Pilae from [[Portus Julius]], Baiae"] ::

Pilae (singular pila) is the Latin word the ancient Romans used for "piers", "piles" or "pylons", vertical pillars often used to support structures such as hypocausts.

Pilae were also used in concrete piers in the Gulf of Pozzuoli at Baiae, Misenum, and Nisida. These are illustrated in a 1st-century fresco from Stabiae.

Ancient glass flasks have been found that illustrate the Puteoli breakwaters with the inscription "pilae".

References

References

  1. S.E.Oscrow "The topography of Puteoli and Baiae on the eight glass flasks" Puteoli, 1979, p 77-140
  2. CIL X 1640, 1641, opus pilarum of the harbour at Puteoli
  3. Seneca, Letters 77.1: in pilis Puteolorum
  4. Livy, History 40.51.4: pilas pontis in Tiberi

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