Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From?

Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From? A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to provide drinkable water, as well as for decorative purposes.

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 19th, century most water fountains functioned using the force of 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. Fountains were not only used as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the artist who created it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often utilized by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. Large Outdoor Fountains Come From? 7445387612909.jpg To show his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to exalt their positions by including decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.

Since indoor plumbing became the norm 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 decorative. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by replacing the force of gravity with mechanical pumps.

These days, fountains decorate public areas and are used to honor individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.

Rome’s Early Water Transport Systems

Rome’s Early Water Transport Systems Aqua Anio Vetus, the first raised aqueduct assembled in Rome, started providing the people living in the hills with water in 273 BC, although they had relied on natural springs up till then. Outside of these aqueducts and springs, wells and rainwater-collecting cisterns were the only techniques around at the time to supply water to segments of high elevation. To provide water to Pincian Hill in the early 16th century, they applied the emerging strategy of redirecting the motion from the Acqua Vergine aqueduct’s underground network. Throughout the time of its original building and construction, pozzi (or manholes) were positioned at set intervals alongside the aqueduct’s channel. Whilst these manholes were provided to make it less difficult to manage the aqueduct, it was also feasible to use containers to pull water from the channel, which was done by Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi from the time he bought the property in 1543 to his passing in 1552. It seems that, the rainwater cistern on his property wasn’t enough to meet his needs. Thankfully, the aqueduct sat under his property, and he had a shaft established to give him access.