Curious
According to legend, ancient Rome was built on seven hills, but the Romans throughout their history artificially created another one, the eighth hill – Testaccio.
Throughout the times of the empire all food products were transported in clay pots weighing 30-40 kg each. After pouring the contents the problem with their disinfection to prevent the decomposition of food residues and their subsequent storage had always appeared.
The Romans began to store empty pots around the port of the river Tiber. They covered them with lime to prevent the decay of food residues that caused toxic fumes. For several centuries these pots reached a height of 80 meters and created the eighth hill of Rome.
Due to the reaction between lime and clay this new hill had obtained a very rigid structure and at present it is completely covered with new buildings.
In the year 75 AC the Greek physician Deskor described the use of saturated solution of lime in water to fight stomach pains (formation of acids).