Where did Fountains Come From?
Where did Fountains Come From?
From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to provide drinkable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Up to the late nineteenth century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and higher than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow downwards or shoot high into the air. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and celebrate the designer. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often utilized by Romans to beautify their fountains. Throughout the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create mini variations of the gardens of paradise. Fountains enjoyed a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. To mark the entrance of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the construction of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts entered the city of Rome
Since indoor plumbing became the standard of the day for fresh, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely ornamental. The creation of special water effects and the recycling of water were 2 things made possible by swapping gravity with mechanical pumps.
These days, fountains decorate public spaces and are used to honor individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
The Minoan Society: Garden Fountains
The Minoan Society: Garden Fountains Fountains and Water and the Minoan Civilization These furnished water and removed it, including water from waste and storms. Virtually all were made from clay or rock. Terracotta was employed for waterways and conduits, both rectangular and round. The cone-like and U-shaped terracotta piping which were discovered have not been found in any other society. Clay conduits were used to circulate water at Knossos Palace, running up to three meters under the floor surfaces. The water pipes also had other functions such as gathering water and diverting it to a primary location for storage. In order to make this achievable, the pipelines had to be created to handle: Below ground Water Transportation: Initially this system seems to have been designed not for ease but rather to supply water for certain individuals or rites without it being noticed.