Attributes of Garden Sculpture in Archaic Greece
Attributes of Garden Sculpture in Archaic Greece The Archaic Greeks manufactured 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 referred to as kouros figures. The kouroi, regarded by the Greeks to exemplify beauty, had one foot extended out of a rigid forward-facing posture and the male figurines were always unclothed, with a strong, powerful build. Around 650 BC, life-size models of the kouroi began to be seen. Throughout the Archaic period, a big time of change, the Greeks were developing new forms of government, expressions of art, and a greater comprehension of people and cultures outside Greece. Still, these battles did little to impede the progress of the Greek civilization.Where did Fountains Originate from?

The primary purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs nearby. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water supply, including 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 artist who created it. Bronze or stone masks of animals and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. To illustrate the gardens of paradise, Muslim and Moorish garden planners of the Middle Ages added fountains to their designs. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were meant to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely decorative. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the force of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.