Cloaca Maxima

Cloaca Maxima, Rome (Historic sites) — Fig. 01Cloaca Maxima© user:Lalupa · Public domain

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About Cloaca Maxima

The Cloaca Maxima is a major part of ancient Rome's sewer system and is considered the prototype of Roman drainage engineering. According to legend, it was built under King Tarquinius Priscus to drain what later became the Roman Forum. The channel follows the course of the former Velabrum stream and empties into the Tiber at the Pons Aemilius. With a width of up to three meters and a height of more than four meters, the structure is impressive in its dimensions. The Roman Forum is also home to the Shrine of Venus Cloacina, the goddess of this waterway. Today, you can see the remarkable construction for yourself; thanks to the constant flow of water, it remained functional for centuries.

Based on the article “Cloaca Maxima” from the German Wikipedia, summarized and rephrased by a language modelLicense CC BY-SA 4.0

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At a glance

Category: Sight › Historic sites
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Address: Via del Velabro, 3
00186 Rome, Italy
District: Roma I
Phone: —
Website: —
Email: —
Coordinates: 41.88876° N · 12.48024° E
Data quality: confidence 0.89
Identifier: ID 8dc929e6-ef1…

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Location & surroundings

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Radius

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FAQ about Cloaca Maxima

quick answers

What is the Cloaca Maxima in Rome?

The Cloaca Maxima is a major part of ancient Rome's sewer system and is considered the prototype of Roman sanitation. The historic site lies in the Roma I district and was originally intended to drain the area that later became the Roman Forum. Remarkably, the constant flow of water kept the system functioning for centuries.

Who built the Cloaca Maxima in Rome?

According to legend, the Cloaca Maxima in Rome was built under King Tarquinius Priscus. The goal was to drain the land that would later become the Roman Forum. The Roman Forum is also home to the Shrine of Venus Cloacina, who was worshipped as the goddess of this waterway.

Where is the Cloaca Maxima and where does it flow?

The Cloaca Maxima is in Rome's Roma I district, at Via del Velabro, 3. The channel follows the course of the former Velabrum stream and empties into the Tiber at the Pons Aemilius.

How big is the Cloaca Maxima?

The Cloaca Maxima in Rome is up to three meters wide and more than four meters high. With these dimensions, the ancient channel ranks among the most impressive structures of Roman sanitation. You can view the structure today.

What can you see around the Cloaca Maxima in Rome?

Around the Cloaca Maxima in Rome, several ancient sites are just a few minutes' walk away. travelguide195 lists the Temple of Portunus at about 66 meters, the Forum Boarium at about 72 meters, Piazza della Bocca della Verità at about 79 meters, and the Bocca della Verità at about 90 meters away. For a break, travelguide195 also lists around 105 restaurants within 500 meters.

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