A Chronicle of Outdoor Fountains
A Chronicle of Outdoor Fountains The translation of hundreds of classical Greek texts into Latin was commissioned by the scholarly Pope Nicholas V who ruled the Church in Rome from 1397 until 1455. In order to make Rome worthy of being the capital of the Christian world, the Pope decided to enhance the beauty of the city. Starting in 1453, the ruined ancient Roman aqueduct known as the Aqua Vergine which had brought clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away, underwent repair at the behest of the Pope. The ancient Roman tradition of building an imposing commemorative fountain at the location where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was resurrected by Nicholas V. The Trevi Fountain now occupies the space previously filled with a wall fountain built by Leon Battista Albert, an architect employed by the Pope. The water which eventually provided the Trevi Fountain as well as the famed baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona came from the modified aqueduct which he had renovated.Original Water Delivery Solutions in The City Of Rome
Original Water Delivery Solutions in The City Of Rome Rome’s first raised aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was built in 273 BC; prior to that, people living at higher elevations had to depend on natural streams for their water. When aqueducts or springs weren’t accessible, people living at higher elevations turned to water pulled from underground or rainwater, which was made available by wells and cisterns. From the beginning of the sixteenth century, water was routed to Pincian Hill via the underground channel of Acqua Vergine. As originally constructed, the aqueduct was provided along the length of its channel with pozzi (manholes) constructed at regular intervals.
During the some 9 years he had the property, from 1543 to 1552, Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi made use of these manholes to take water from the network in containers, though they were actually built for the objective of cleaning and maintaining the aqueduct. It seems that, the rainwater cistern on his property wasn’t enough to meet his needs. To provide himself with a more efficient system to obtain water, he had one of the manholes exposed, offering him access to the aqueduct below his property.
A Concise History of the Early Water Garden Fountains
A Concise History of the Early Water Garden Fountains As initially developed, water fountains were crafted to be practical, directing water from creeks or aqueducts to the inhabitants of towns and settlements, where the water could be used for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. To make water flow through a fountain until the later part of the 1800’s, and create a jet of water, required gravity and a water source such as a spring or lake, located higher than the fountain. The elegance and wonder of fountains make them perfect for historic memorials. If you saw the very first fountains, you wouldn't recognize them as fountains.
Simple stone basins sculpted from nearby rock were the first fountains, used for spiritual ceremonies and drinking water. The original stone basins are presumed to be from around 2000 B.C.. Gravity was the power source that controlled the initial water fountains. Drinking water was provided by public fountains, long before fountains became elaborate public statues, as beautiful as they are practical. Wildlife, Gods, and Spiritual figures dominated the very early decorative Roman fountains, starting to show up in about 6 B.C.. The remarkable aqueducts of Rome supplied water to the eye-catching public fountains, many of which you can travel to today.
Installation and Maintenance of Fountains
Installation and Maintenance of Fountains An important facet to think about is the size of the outdoor wall fountain in respect to the space in which you are going to install it. It is essential that the wall where you are going to hang it is sturdy enough to support its load. Therefore for smaller areas or walls, a light fountain is going to be more appropriate. An electrical socket close to the fountain is required to power the fountain. There are many different models of fountains, each with their own set of simple, step-by-step directions. The typical outdoor wall feature is available in an easy-to-use kit that comes with everything you need and more to properly install it. A submersible pump, hoses and basin, or reservoir, are provided in the kit. The basin, if it's not too big, can easily be hiddenin your garden among the plants. Once your wall fountain is in place, all that is needed is regular cleaning and some light maintenance.
Replenishing and purifying the water on a consistent basis is very important. Rubbish such as twigs, leaves or dirt should be cleared away quickly. In addition, your outdoor wall fountain should not be exposed to freezing winter weather conditions. In order to avoid any damage, such as cracking, from freezing water during the cold winter months, relocate your pump indoors. All in all, an outdoor wall fountain can last for any number of years with the right servicing and cleaning.