The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains

The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to supply drinking water, as well as for decorative purposes.

The central purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Residents of cities, townships and small towns utilized them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains had to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from the power of gravity. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to decorate living areas and memorialize the designer. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to decorate their fountains. Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create smaller depictions of the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were intended 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 glorify the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.

Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Origins Outdoor Fountains 60914515864670.jpg Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by replacing the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.

These days, fountains adorn public areas and are used to pay tribute to individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.

The Early Society: Outdoor Fountains

The Early Society: Outdoor Fountains During archaeological excavations on the island of Crete, a variety of kinds of conduits have been detected. They were used for water supply as well as removal of storm water and wastewater. They were commonly created from clay or stone. Terracotta was utilized for canals and conduits, both rectangular and round. Amidst these were terracotta conduits that were U shaped or a shortened, cone-like form which have only showed up in Minoan civilization. The water supply at Knossos Palace was managed with a strategy of terracotta pipes that was located below the floor, at depths ranging from a few centimeters to several meters. The clay water lines were also made use of for accumulating and storing water. Thus, these conduits had to be effective to: Underground Water Transportation: This undetectable process for water movement could possibly have been used to supply water to select people or events. Quality Water Transportation: There’s also evidence which indicates the pipelines being employed to provide for fountains independently from the local process.