ClipArt ETC
"A sewer, a drain. Rome was intersected by numerous sewers, some of which were of an immense size: the most celebrated of them was the cloaca maxima, the construction of which is ascribed to Tarquinius Priscus. It was formed by three tiers of arces, one within the other, the innermost of which is a semicircular vault of 14 feet in diameter. The manner of its construction is shown in the annexed cut. Under the republic, the administration of the sewers was entrusted to the censors; but under the empire, particular officers were appointed for that purpose, called cloacarum curatores, who employed condemned criminals in cleansing and repairing them." — Smith, 1873

Cloaca

"A sewer, a drain. Rome was intersected by numerous sewers, some of which were of an immense size: the…

Diagram illustrating an irrigation system.

Irrigation system

Diagram illustrating an irrigation system.

One sort of pump once common worldwide was a hand-powered water pump over a water well where people could work it to extract water, before most houses had individual water supplies.

Hand Operated Pump

One sort of pump once common worldwide was a hand-powered water pump over a water well where people…

"The handling consists of lifting the hides out of the pit by means of a tanner's hook, piling them on the side till they drain, and returning them into the pit, the hide on the top in one handling going to the bottom in the next." —The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

Tanner's Hook

"The handling consists of lifting the hides out of the pit by means of a tanner's hook, piling them…

As you pour water into a Cup of Tantalus, the cup fills with water, but after it reaches a certain height, the water begins to drain through the siphon.

Vase of Tantalus

As you pour water into a Cup of Tantalus, the cup fills with water, but after it reaches a certain height,…