Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Originate from?
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Originate from? The incredible architecture of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to complete your home.The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly practical.
Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to supply potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from the power of gravity. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often used by Romans to beautify their fountains. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were meant 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.
Indoor plumbing became the key source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Ancient Crete & The Minoans: Water Fountains
Ancient Crete & The Minoans: Water Fountains A variety of kinds of conduits have been found through archaeological digs on the island of Crete, the cradle of Minoan society. They were used for water supply as well as removal of storm water and wastewater. Rock and terracotta were the ingredients of choice for these conduits. Whenever prepared from clay, they were usually in the shape of canals and round or rectangular piping. The cone-like and U-shaped clay conduits that were found haven’t been seen in any other civilization.
Knossos Palace had an advanced plumbing network made of clay conduits which ran up to three meters below ground. Along with disbursing water, the clay water pipes of the Minoans were also made use of to accumulate water and accumulate it. These terracotta pipelines were used to perform: Below ground Water Transportation: This system’s invisible nature may suggest that it was primarily developed for some kind of ritual or to circulate water to limited communities. Quality Water Transportation: The water pipes could furthermore have been used to take water to water fountains which were distinct from the city’s normal system.