Where did Garden Water Fountains Begin?
Where did Garden Water Fountains Begin? The incredible architecture of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to complete your home. The primary purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to supply potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also generated clean, fresh drinking water. 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 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. To mark the entryway of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the construction of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts arrived in the city of Rome
Urban fountains made at the end of the 19th century functioned only as decorative and celebratory ornaments since indoor plumbing provided the necessary drinking water. The creation of special water effects and the recycling of water were two things made possible by swapping gravity with mechanical pumps.
Beautifying city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the purposes of modern-day fountains.
Keeping Your Fountain Tidy
Keeping Your Fountain Tidy It is important to carefully maintain water fountains for them to perform optimally. It is easy for foreign items to find their way into outside fountains, so keeping it clean is essential. Another factor is that water that is subjected to sunlight is vulnerable to growing algae. Either sea salt, hydrogen peroxide, or vinegar can be blended into the water to eliminate this problem. There are those who like to use bleach, but that is harmful to any animals that might drink or bathe in the water - so should therefore be avoided.Every 3-4 months, garden fountains should undergo a decent cleaning.
To start with you must empty the water. As soon as it is empty, wash inside the reservoir with a gentle cleanser. If there is intricate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Be sure to thoroughly rinse the interior of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
Various organisms and calcium deposits may get inside the pump, so it is advised to take it apart and clean it completely. Soaking it in vinegar for a bit will make it easier to clean. If you want to minimize build-up in your fountain, use rain water or mineral water versus tap water, as these don’t contain any ingredients that will stick to the inside of the pump.
Lastly, make sure your fountain is always full by checking on it every day - this will keep it in tip-top condition. Permitting the water level to get too low can cause damage to the pump - and you certainly don't want that!
Early Crete & The Minoans: Outdoor Fountains
Early Crete & The Minoans: Outdoor Fountains During archaeological excavations on the island of Crete, various types of channels have been found.
They were used for water supply as well as removal of storm water and wastewater. The principle ingredients utilized were rock or terracotta. There were clay pipes, both circular and rectangular as well as waterways made from the same elements. These incorporated cone-like and U-shaped clay water lines that were unique to the Minoans. Terracotta pipelines were employed to distribute water at Knossos Palace, running up to three meters below the floors. The water pipes also had other applications such as collecting water and diverting it to a centralized site for storing. This required the clay piping to be capable of holding water without losing it. Subterranean Water Transportation: It is not quite known why the Minoans required to move water without it being spotted. Quality Water Transportation: The pipelines may furthermore have been made use of to take water to fountains which were split from the city’s general system.