"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Garden Statuary
"Primitive" Greek Artistry: Garden Statuary Archaic Greeks were known for providing the first freestanding statuary; up until then, most carvings were made out of walls and pillars as reliefs. For the most part the statues, or kouros figures, were of young and desirable male or female (kore) Greeks. Representing beauty to the Greeks, the kouroi were crafted to appear rigid and typically had foot in front; the males were vigorous, powerful, and nude. In about 650 BC, the varieties of the kouroi became life-sized. The Archaic period was turbulent for the Greeks as they progressed into more sophisticated forms of federal government and art, and obtained more data about the peoples and civilizations outside of Greece. But these disputes did not stop the expansion of the Greek civilization. {The Outdoor Water Fountains

Where did Large Garden Fountains Begin?
Where did Large Garden Fountains Begin? A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also propel water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.Pure practicality was the original purpose of fountains. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Up to the late 19th century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and more elevated than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow down or jet high into the air. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often utilized by Romans to beautify their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to exalt their positions by adding decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into 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 ornamental. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to deliver recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Nowadays, fountains decorate public areas and are used to honor individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.