Where did Fountains Begin?
Where did Fountains Begin? A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for an extraordinary effect. From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains operated using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the artist who created it. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly illustrating animals or heroes. To depict the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages added fountains to their designs. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. To mark the entrance of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the building of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts entered the city of Rome
Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for fresh, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for beautiful water displays.
Nowadays, fountains decorate public spaces and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Back Story of Garden Water Fountains
Back Story of Garden Water Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a well educated man, ruled the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of ancient classic Greek documents into Latin. In order to make Rome deserving of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope resolved to embellish the beauty of the city. Restoration of the Acqua Vergine, a ruined Roman aqueduct which had transported fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away, began in 1453 at the behest of the Pope. The ancient Roman custom of building an awe-inspiring commemorative fountain at the point where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was resurrected by Nicholas V. The architect Leon Battista Alberti was directed by the Pope to construct a wall fountain where we now see the Trevi Fountain. Changes and extensions, included in the repaired aqueduct, eventually supplied the Trevi Fountain and the well-known baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona with the necessary water supply.Fountains: The Minoan Culture
Fountains: The Minoan Culture Archaeological excavations in Minoan Crete in Greece have uncovered several types of channels. These were applied to provide towns and cities with water as well as to reduce flooding and remove waste. Virtually all were created from terracotta or even rock. When manufactured from terracotta, they were commonly in the shape of canals and circular or rectangular pipes. Amidst these were terracotta conduits which were U shaped or a shortened, cone-like form which have just showed up in Minoan culture. Clay piping were employed to distribute water at Knossos Palace, running up to three meters beneath the floor surfaces. Along with distributing water, the terracotta water pipes of the Minoans were also utilized to accumulate water and store it. This called for the clay conduits to be suitable for holding water without losing it. Underground Water Transportation: Originally this particular system appears to have been designed not for comfort but rather to supply water for certain individuals or rituals without it being noticed.
Quality Water Transportation: Many scholars feel that these conduits were employed to develop a separate distribution system for the palace.
Backyard Elegance: Outdoor Fountains
Backyard Elegance: Outdoor Fountains These days you can just place your garden water fountain near a wall since they no longer need to be hooked to a pond. Excavating, installing and cleaning a nearby pond are no longer a necessity. Due to the fact that this feature is self-contained, no plumbing is required. Remember, however, to add water at regular intervals. Drain the water from the basin and add clean water whenever the surrounding area is dirty.Outdoor wall fountains come in many different materials, but they are usually made of stone and metal. Knowing the style you want shows the best material to use. It is important to buy hand-crafted, light garden wall fountains which are also simple to hang. In addition, be certain to purchase a fountain which necessitates little upkeep. The re-circulating pump and hanging hardware are usually the only parts which need extra care in most installations, although there may be some cases in which the installation is a bit more complex.
It is very easy to liven up your yard with these types of fountains.