Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Piscina

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

PISCI'NA (ἰχθυοτροφεῖον). A stew or stock pond for fish, an usual appendage to the villa residences of the wealthy Romans. Aul. Gell. ii. 20. 2. Cic. Att. ii. 1. Varro, R. R. iii. 17. Columell. viii. 17.

2. A large swimming bath in the open air (Plin. Ep. v. 6. 25.), either of tepid water warmed by the heat of the sun, or from a naturally warm spring (Id. ii. 17. 11. Suet. Nero, 31.); but sometimes reduced in temperature by the admixture of snow (Id. Nero, 27.). It differs from the baptisterium, in not being under cover and generally colder.

3. Piscina limaria. A clearing tank, constructed at the commencement or termination of an aqueduct for the purpose of allowing the water to purify itself by depositing its sediment before it was transmitted through the city (Frontin. Aq. 15. 19.). Many remains of such works have been discovered in different parts of Italy, some of which are constructed upon a scale of very great extent and magnificence; but the annexed illustration (Piscina/3.1), representing the plan of one which formerly existed under the Pincian hill (collis hortulorum), and served to purify the aqua Virgo, though small and inconsiderable as compared with many others, will explain the general nature of these structures, and the manner in which they operated. A A represents the duct or water course of the aqueduct, which discharges its waters into the chamber B, where the onward course of the stream is arrested, and ceases to flow. C is an aperture in the floor of the chamber, through which the water descends into another vault, D, below the level of the duct, at the bottom of which the sediment contained in the water deposits itself. E, another aperture through which the water passes on to a second vault, also below the level of the duct, and in which it continues to throw down any remaining deposits. From this it rises through the aperture G, into an upper chamber, H, and again restores itself in a purified state to the duct I I which it had left on the opposite side. The door-way, K, at the bottom of the lower chamber on the right hand, is a sluice-gate (cataracta) through which the mud and other impurities were discharged into the sewer.

4. A tank, or basin of water, in the atrium or peristylium of private houses (Pet. Sat. 62. 7.); more usually termed IMPLUVIUM, which see.

5. Any large wooden vat for holding water. Plin. H. N. xxxiv. 32.

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  Piscina/3.1