Plumbing in Ancient Era
Plumbing in the Ancient Era
We all know how uncomfortable it can be when we don’t have access to a toilet but need to go. It begs the question of how people in the ancient times used to make use of plumbing. You would be surprised to know that a lot of the plumbing fixtures we use today were invented in one way or another a long time ago!
One of the most amazing feats of ancient plumbing was the Roman aqueduct and sewer system. Owing to the wealth, prosperity, and engineering know-how of the Romans, they were also able to create a water system that would be one of the most advanced in the world up into the 1800’s. Romans built aqueducts to carry fresh running water over hundreds of miles for use in homes and baths. The Romans also had a sewer, which carried waste out of the city and into the River Tiber. The aqueducts poured unused water into the sewer, which helped to flush waste out of the city and keep it clean. The Romans even had a goddess who they thought watched over the sewer!
Of course, the Romans were not the only or first ones to develop plumbing systems. Over 4000 years ago, the Indus Valley Civilization demonstrated some sophisticated plumbing, with a working toilet system. The Greeks also made developments in the plumbing field with clay pipes during the Minoan period. The Mayans at Palenque had flush toilets, aqueducts, and even water filters. The Chapultepec aqueduct in the Aztec city of Tenochtitlan was destroyed by Hernan Cortes, eventually helping his conquest of the city.
Of course, modern advancements in plumbing helped spread these innovations from a few major cities to a large, growing portion of the population of the United States. There is a lot of history in your toilet, so do not take it for granted! If your drains need some cleaning, call Rodger’s Plumbing at (972) 931-1021!