Rome’s Ingenious Water Transport Systems
Rome’s Ingenious Water Transport Systems With the manufacturing of the very first raised aqueduct in Rome, the Aqua Anio Vetus in 273 BC, folks who lived on the city’s hillsides no longer had to be dependent only on naturally-occurring spring water for their requirements. Over this time period, there were only 2 other innovations capable of supplying water to elevated areas, subterranean wells and cisterns, which gathered rainwater. To offer water to Pincian Hill in the early sixteenth century, they applied the new method of redirecting the flow from the Acqua Vergine aqueduct’s underground network. As originally constructed, the aqueduct was provided along the length of its channel with pozzi (manholes) constructed at regular intervals. Whilst these manholes were developed to make it much easier to conserve the aqueduct, it was also possible to use buckets to extract water from the channel, which was practiced by Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi from the time he obtained the property in 1543 to his death in 1552. He didn’t get an adequate amount water from the cistern that he had built on his residential property to gather rainwater. That is when he decided to create an access point to the aqueduct that ran directly below his residential property.Where did Large Garden Fountains Originate from?
Where did Large Garden Fountains Originate from?
Pure practicality was the original role of fountains. Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to supply potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains functioned using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Acting as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. Bronze or stone masks of wildlife and heroes were frequently seen on Roman fountains. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to demonstrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to laud their positions by including beautiful baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
Urban fountains made at the end of the nineteenth served only as decorative and celebratory ornaments since indoor plumbing provided the necessary drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
These days, fountains decorate public spaces and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.