The Original Public Water Features of Human History
The Original Public Water Features of Human History The water from rivers and other sources was initially provided to the inhabitants of nearby communities and municipalities via water fountains, whose purpose was largely practical, not aesthetic. In the days before electric power, the spray of fountains was powered by gravity exclusively, usually using an aqueduct or water resource located far away in the nearby hills. The appeal and wonder of fountains make them ideal for historic memorials. When you see a fountain at present, that is not what the very first water fountains looked like. A stone basin, crafted from rock, was the 1st fountain, used for holding water for drinking and religious purposes. The original stone basins are believed to be from about 2000 BC. The force of gravity was the energy source that controlled the oldest water fountains. Situated near aqueducts or springs, the practical public water fountains supplied the local population with fresh drinking water. Fountains with ornamental Gods, mythological monsters, and creatures began to show up in Rome in about 6 B.C., built from rock and bronze. A well-designed collection of reservoirs and aqueducts kept Rome's public fountains supplied with fresh water.
Where did Fountains Originate from?
Where did Fountains Originate from? A fountain, an incredible piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also propel water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.
From the onset, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, via aqueducts or springs in the vicinity. Up until the 19th century, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water source, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to take advantage of gravity which fed the fountains. Serving as an element of adornment and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. The main components used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. The fountains seen in the Gardens of Versailles were meant to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries created baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to bring recycled water into living spaces as well as create unique water effects.
Modern fountains are used to embellish community spaces, honor individuals or events, and enrich recreational and entertainment events.