The Cloaca Maxima of ancient Rome is one of the oldest sewers. The name, Cloaca Maxima in Latin, literally means "the greatest sewer." It was built at the end of the 6th century BC during the time of the last kings of Rome; in particular, the king who formalized its construction was Tarquinius Priscus. The Cloaca Maxima benefited from the experience developed by Etruscan engineering, using the vaulted arch that made it more stable and durable over time. It was one of the first major urbanization projects. It is the oldest sewer still fully functional in the world, as it has been in operation for over 2600 years.
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