A Brief History of the First Public Water Fountains

A Brief History of the First Public Water Fountains As originally conceived, fountains were designed to be functional, guiding water from streams or reservoirs to the inhabitants of cities and villages, where the water could be utilized for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. Brief History First Public Water Fountains 2969877808449937.jpg

Brief History First Public Water Fountains 2969877808449937.jpg

The force of gravity was the power supply of water fountains up until the end of the nineteenth century, using the forceful power of water traveling downhill from a spring or brook to squeeze the water through valves or other outlets. Inspirational and impressive, big water fountains have been constructed as monuments in nearly all societies. When you encounter a fountain today, that is certainly not what the very first water fountains looked like. A natural stone basin, carved from rock, was the first fountain, utilized for holding water for drinking and religious purposes. Rock basins as fountains have been discovered from 2000 B.C.. The spray of water emerging from small spouts was pushed by gravity, the lone power source builders had in those days. These ancient fountains were designed to be functional, commonly situated along aqueducts, streams and waterways to furnish drinking water. Fountains with elaborate decoration began to appear in Rome in about 6 B.C., usually gods and wildlife, made with stone or copper-base alloy. The City of Rome had an elaborate system of aqueducts that provided the water for the many fountains that were situated throughout the urban center.

Early Water Delivery Techniques in The City Of Rome

Early Water Delivery Techniques City Rome 32852282037854869.jpg

With the construction of the 1st raised aqueduct in Rome, the Aqua Anio Vetus in 273 BC, folks who lived on the city’s hills no longer had to be dependent solely on naturally-occurring spring water for their demands. Throughout this time period, there were only two other techniques capable of offering water to elevated areas, subterranean wells and cisterns, which accumulated rainwater. In the early 16th century, the city began to make use of the water that flowed underground through Acqua Vergine to provide water to Pincian Hill. Pozzi, or manholes, were made at standard stretches along the aqueduct’s channel. The manholes made it more straightforward to thoroughly clean the channel, but it was also achievable to use buckets to remove water from the aqueduct, as we discovered with Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi when he owned the property from 1543 to 1552, the year he died. Despite the fact that the cardinal also had a cistern to amass rainwater, it couldn't supply enough water. To provide himself with a more effective system to assemble water, he had one of the manholes opened, providing him access to the aqueduct below his residence.

Bernini’s First Italian Water Fountains

Bernini’s First Italian Water Fountains Bernini's earliest water fountain, named Barcaccia, is a breath taking work of art found at the foot of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, this spot is flooded with Roman locals and tourists alike who enjoy conversation and each other's company. One of the city’s most stylish gathering places are the streets surrounding Bernini's fountain, which would certainly have brought a smile to the great Bernini. Bernini’s First Italian Water Fountains 041280468145.jpg

Dating back to around 1630, Pope Urbano VIII commissioned what was to be the earliest water fountain of the master's career. Illustrated in the fountain's design is a large vessel slowly sinking into the Mediterranean Sea. Period reports dating back to the 16th century show that the fountain was built as a monument to those who lost their lives in the great flooding of the Tevere. In what became his one and only prolonged absence from Italy, Bernini {journeyed | traveled] to France in 1665.