Aspects of Outdoor Statues in Archaic Greece
Aspects of Outdoor Statues in Archaic Greece The initial freestanding statuary was developed by the Archaic Greeks, a distinguished success since until then the sole carvings in existence were reliefs cut into walls and columns. For the most part the statues, or kouros figures, were of adolescent and attractive male or female (kore) Greeks. Regarded as by Greeks to characterize skin care, the kouroi were shaped into inflexible, forward facing poses with one foot outstretched, and the male statues were usually nude, well-built, and fit. In about 650 BC, the differences of the kouroi became life-sized. The Archaic period was an amazing time of transformation for the Greeks as they grew into new forms of government, formed novel expressions of art, and gained information of the men and women and cultures outside of Greece.
Modern Garden Decoration: Outdoor Fountains and their Beginnings

Originally, fountains only served a functional purpose. 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. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water source, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often used by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. To show his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
The end of the 19th century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to purely decorative elements. Amazing water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
These days, fountains adorn public spaces and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.