Outdoor Garden Fountains Lost to History

Outdoor Garden Fountains Lost to History As initially developed, fountains were designed to be practical, guiding water from streams or aqueducts to the citizens of towns and settlements, where the water could be used for cooking, washing, and drinking. Gravity was the power supply of water fountains up until the conclusion of the 19th century, using the potent power of water traveling down hill from a spring or creek to push the water through spigots or other outlets. Commonly used as monuments and commemorative structures, water fountains have influenced men and women from all over the world all through the centuries. Outdoor Garden Fountains Lost History 398851789069288.jpg

Outdoor Garden Fountains Lost History 398851789069288.jpg

If you saw the first fountains, you probably would not recognize them as fountains. The very first known water fountain was a rock basin carved that served as a receptacle for drinking water and ceremonial functions. The original stone basins are presumed to be from about 2000 BC. The first civilizations that used fountains depended on gravity to force water through spigots. The placement of the fountains was determined by the water source, which is why you’ll normally find them along aqueducts, waterways, or rivers. Fountains with ornate decoration started to show up in Rome in approximately 6 B.C., usually gods and wildlife, made with natural stone or copper-base alloy. A well-engineered system of reservoirs and aqueducts kept Rome's public water fountains supplied with fresh water.

"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Outdoor Statuary

"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Outdoor Statuary The initial freestanding sculpture was designed by the Archaic Greeks, a distinguished achievement since until then the sole carvings in existence were reliefs cut into walls and pillars. Youthful, ideal male or female (kore) Greeks were the subject matter of most of the statues, or kouros figures. Representing beauty to the Greeks, the kouroi were crafted to appear rigid and always had foot forward; the males were healthy, robust, and naked. Around 650 BC, life-sized versions of the kouroi began to be observed. Throughout the Archaic period, a great time of change, the Greeks were developing new types of government, expressions of art, and a deeper understanding of people and cultures outside Greece. However, these battles did little to impede the progression of the Greek civilization.

The Impact of the Norman Invasion on Anglo Saxon Garden Design

The Impact of the Norman Invasion on Anglo Saxon Garden Design The advent of the Normans in the later half of the eleventh century significantly transformed The Anglo-Saxon ways of living. The Normans were much better than the Anglo-Saxons at architecture and horticulture when they came into power. But home life, household architecture, and decoration were out of the question until the Normans taken over the entire population. Monasteries and castles served different purposes, so while monasteries were large stone structures constructed in only the most productive, wide dales, castles were set upon blustery knolls where the occupants focused on understanding offensive and defensive techniques. The tranquil method of gardening was unrealistic in these bleak bastions. Berkeley Castle, maybe the most pristine model of the early Anglo-Norman style of architecture, still exists in the present day. The keep is rumored to have been conceived during the time of William the Conqueror. A massive terrace serves as a hindrance to invaders who would attempt to mine the walls of the building. One of these terraces, a charming bowling green, is covered grass and flanked by an aged yew hedge cut into the figure of crude battlements.