"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Large Statuary
"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Large Statuary The primitive Greeks built the first freestanding statuary, an impressive achievement as most sculptures up until then had been reliefs cut into walls and pillars. Most of the freestanding statues were of young, winsome male or female (kore) Greeks and are known as kouros figures. The kouroi were believed by the Greeks to embody beauty and were sculpted with one foot leading and an uncompromising stiffness to their forward-facing poses; the male statues were always strapping, sinewy, and nude. In 650 BC, life-size variations of the kouroi began to be seen. The Archaic period was tumultuous for the Greeks as they progressed into more refined forms of federal government and art, and gained more information and facts about the peoples and cultures outside of Greece. Conflicts like The Arcadian wars, the Spartan invasion of Samos, and other wars between city-states are suggestive of the disruptive nature of the time period, which was similar to other periods of historical disturbance. However, these conflicts did not significantly hinder the advancement of the Greek civilization.At What Point Did Water Fountains Emerge?
At What Point Did Water Fountains Emerge? Himself a learned man, Pope Nicholas V headed the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 till 1455 and was responsible for the translation of hundreds of ancient documents from their original Greek into Latin. He undertook the embellishment of Rome to turn it into the model capital of the Christian world. Beginning in 1453, the ruined ancient Roman aqueduct known as the Aqua Vergine which had brought fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away, underwent reconstruction at the behest of the Pope.
Building a mostra, a grandiose commemorative fountain built by ancient Romans to memorialize the arrival point of an aqueduct, was a custom revived by Nicholas V. The architect Leon Battista Alberti was directed by the Pope to put up a wall fountain where we now find the Trevi Fountain. The aqueduct he had reconditioned included modifications and extensions which eventually enabled it to supply water to the Trevi Fountain as well as the famed baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and the Piazza Navona.
Keeping Your Large Outdoor Fountain Clean
Keeping Your Large Outdoor Fountain Clean Proper care and regular maintenance are important to the longevity of water fountains.
Leaves, twigs, and bugs often find their way into fountains, so it is important to keep yours free from such things. Another factor is that water that is subjected to sunlight is prone to growing algae. To stay clear of this, take vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, or sea salt and add right into the water. There are those who choose to use bleach, but that is hazardous to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided. Experts suggest that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough scrubbing every three-four months. Before you can start washing it you should empty out all of the water. Then use mild soap and a soft sponge to clean the interior of the reservoir. Feel free to use a toothbrush if necessary for any smaller crevasses. Any soap residue remaining on your fountain can damage it, so be sure it is all rinsed off.
It is highly suggested taking the pump apart to better clean the inside and remove any plankton or calcium. To make it less challenging, soak it in vinegar for several hours before cleaning. Build-up can be a big hassle, so use mineral or rain water over tap water, when possible, to prevent this dilemma.
Finally, be sure to have a quick look at your fountain every day and add water if you see that the level is low. Allowing the water to drop below the pump’s intake level, can cause major damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!