"Primitive" Greek Artwork: Outdoor Statuary

"Primitive" Greek Artwork: Outdoor Statuary The primitive Greeks built the 1st freestanding statuary, an amazing achievement as most sculptures up until then had been reliefs cut into walls and pillars. Youthful, appealing male or female (kore) Greeks were the subject matter of most of the statues, or kouros figures.

Symbolizing beauty to the Greeks, the kouroi were designed to appear stiff and commonly had foot forward; the males were vigorous, sturdy, and naked. Around 650 BC, life-sized forms of the kouroi began to be seen. The Archaic period was turbulent for the Greeks as they progressed into more refined forms of government and art, and gained more data about the peoples and societies outside of Greece. However, the Greek civilization was not slowed down by these struggles.

The Garden Fountains

The Garden Fountains As initially conceived, water fountains were designed to be practical, guiding water from streams or reservoirs to the inhabitants of towns and settlements, where the water could be utilized for cooking, washing, and drinking. Gravity was the power source of water fountains up until the conclusion of the 19th century, using the forceful power of water traveling downhill from a spring or brook to force the water through spigots or other outlets. Inspiring and spectacular, big water fountains have been constructed as memorials in most societies. The common fountains of today bear little similarity to the very first water fountains. A natural stone basin, crafted from rock, was the first fountain, utilized for containing water for drinking and ceremonial functions. Natural stone basins are believed to have been 1st used around 2000 BC. The force of gravity was the energy source that controlled the oldest water fountains. These original water fountains were built to be functional, usually situated along aqueducts, streams and rivers to provide drinking water. The Romans began creating elaborate fountains in 6 BC, most of which were metallic or stone masks of wildlife and mythological characters. The impressive aqueducts of Rome provided water to the spectacular public fountains, most of which you can travel to today.