Roman Aqueducts brought water from distant springs and rivers to the population centers.
	And the power of the diverted water was also used to power mills.   Have a look at the remains of a mill in Barbegal, France.
	If arranged in a large circle, the arch thrust could be all but eliminated.  The Colosseum in Rome is an example.
	Here's a section through the Colosseum walls that shows how many smaller arches were used to build the larger structure.
	And let's not forget the use of arches in bridges.
	The Brantacan Bridges site is an excellent reference for all types of bridges.  This link takes you to the sub-category of arch bridges.
If one arch is good, multiple arches are better, right?  And here is a bonus: the arch thrust at the central columns cancels out.  Regardless of how many arches are abutted, the arch thrust at the ends of the assembly remains the same.