Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From?
Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Come From? A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.
From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. Inhabitants of cities, townships and small towns used them as a source of drinking water and a place to wash, which meant that fountains needed to be linked to nearby aqueduct or spring. Up to the late nineteenth century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and more elevated than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow down or jet high into the air. Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the artist. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to beautify their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. To demonstrate his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to extol their positions by adding decorative baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
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. Impressive water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the power of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Contemporary fountains are used to adorn community spaces, honor individuals or events, and enrich recreational and entertainment events.
Water Fountains: The Minoan Culture
Water Fountains: The Minoan Culture Archaeological excavations in Minoan Crete in Greece have revealed several types of channels.
The Impact of the Norman Conquest on Anglo Saxon Gardens
The Impact of the Norman Conquest on Anglo Saxon Gardens The advent of the Normans in the latter half of the eleventh century significantly modified The Anglo-Saxon ways of living.
Statuary As a Staple of Classic Art in Historic Greece
Statuary As a Staple of Classic Art in Historic Greece The initial freestanding sculpture was developed by the Archaic Greeks, a distinguished accomplishment since until then the sole carvings in existence were reliefs cut into walls and columns. Most of the freestanding statues were of young, winsome male or female (kore) Greeks and are referred to as kouros figures.