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EMISSA′RIUM (ὑπόνομος), a channel, natural or artificial, by which an outlet is formed to carry off any stagnant body of water (Plin. H. N. XXXIII.4 s.21; Cic. ad Fam. XVI.18). Such channels may be either open or underground; but the most remarkable works of the kind are of the latter description, as they carry off the waters of lakes surrounded by hills. In Greece, the most remarkable example is presented by the subterraneous channels which carry off the waters of the lake Copais into the Cephisus, which were partly natural and partly artificial (Strab. IX. p406; Thiersch, État actuel de la Grèce, vol. II p23; Müller, Orchomenos, pp49, &c., 2nd ed.).
Another specimen of such works among the Greeks at an early period is presented by the subterraneous channels constructed by Phaeax at Agrigentum in Sicily, to drain the city, about B.C. 480; which were admired for their magnitude, although the workmanship was very rude (Diod. Sic. XI.25).
Some works of this kind are among the most remarkable efforts of Roman ingenuity. Remains still exist to show that the lakes Trasimene, Albano, Nemi, and Fucino, were all drained by means of emissaria, the last of which is still nearly perfect, and open to inspection, having been partially cleared by the present king of Naples. Julius Caesar is said to have first conceived the idea of this stupendous undertaking (Suet. Jul. 44), which was carried into effect by the Emperor Claudius (Tacit. Ann. XII.57).a
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a This is most misleading. Although the Fucine lake was drained, it wasn't until 1878. In one of the rare failures of Roman engineering, after several years of work and major expenditure, the drainage scheme, inaugurated by Claudius himself, proved quite embarrassing: the water level dropped by about 4 meters and stabilized, leaving the lake very much there.
An excellent detailed 40‑page article on both drainage works can be found at Aercalor. In Italian, with a wealth of photographs, maps, diagrams, historical and topographical data, and a bibliography.
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