What is the Cloaca Maxima and why is it important

One of the oldest monuments in the Roman Forum is the Cloaca Maxima, an ancient Roman sewer system. In the 6th century BC, a stream bed was paved with stone to form an open channel, but it was subsequently enclosed with a stone barrel (semicircular) vault in the 3rd century BC. In Imperial times, large public baths and latrines were connected to it so that storm water could be carried off to the Tiber as well as a large amount of storm water from the Forum district. There has been a significant amount of concrete replacement of its original masonry. You can also be sure that they will be ensuring that it is being kept blockage free by using methods like those being offered by Sewer Pipe Lining Solihull company www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/sewer-repairs-drain-lining-concrete-cutting/drain-repairs/drain-repairs-solihull/

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In order to mitigate the spread of disease, the Romans used the Cloaca Maxima to transport waste out of the city and into the Tiber River in order to prevent disease from spreading. It is unfortunate that Romans are still using the Tiber River for drinking water and bathing, so the benefits of transporting waste out of the city were negated as a result. The Cloaca Maxima canal has been extended and repaired since it was originally constructed, allowing it to be linked deeper into Rome than it was originally. In order to drain the storm water and waste from the city, new canals were connected to the Cloaca Maxima as the city grew.

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Eventually, the area above the Cloaca Maxima was developed into the Roman Forum, one of the most important public spaces in ancient Rome. In addition to the public markets that operated in the Roman Forum, the Roman Senate House, the House of the Roman Emperors, and various temples and monuments were also to be found here. It is believed that Julius Caesar’s body was cremated in the Forum after his death. There was a great deal of significance attached to this valley in the history of Rome.

Despite the fact that it was built more than 2500 years ago, the Cloaca Maxima is still being used today to transport stormwater away from the city and into Tiber River.

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