A Concise History of the First Public Garden Fountains
A Concise History of the First Public Garden Fountains Towns and communities depended on working water fountains to funnel water for cooking, washing, and cleaning from nearby sources like ponds, streams, or springs. A source of water higher in elevation than the fountain was required to pressurize the movement and send water squirting from the fountain's spout, a system without equal until the later half of the nineteenth century. Frequently used as memorials and commemorative structures, water fountains have inspired travelers from all over the planet throughout the ages. If you saw the first fountains, you would not recognize them as fountains. Basic stone basins sculpted from local stone were the original fountains, used for spiritual ceremonies and drinking water. Natural stone basins are believed to have been first used around 2000 BC. The first fountains put to use in ancient civilizations relied on gravity to manipulate the movement of water through the fountain. These ancient fountains were created to be functional, commonly situated along aqueducts, streams and rivers to supply drinking water. Fountains with elaborate decoration started to appear in Rome in approx. 6 B.C., commonly gods and animals, made with natural stone or bronze. The Romans had an elaborate system of aqueducts that delivered the water for the numerous fountains that were located throughout the urban center.The Early Culture: Garden Fountains
The Early Culture: Garden Fountains
The Many Good Reasons to Include a Fountain
The Many Good Reasons to Include a Fountain The area outside your home can be enhanced by including a wall or a garden fountain to your landscaping or garden project. A myriad of present-day designers and fountain craftsmen have found inspiration in the fountains and water features of the past. As such, introducing one of these to your home design is a great way to connect it to the past. The water and moisture garden fountains release into the atmosphere draws birds and other creatures, and also balances the ecosystem, all of which contribute to the advantages of including one of these beautiful water features. Birds enticed by a fountain or bird bath often frighten off irritating flying pests, for instance.Spouting or cascading fountains are not the best option for a small yard since they occupy a great deal of space. There are two types of fountains to pick from including the freestanding model with a flat back and an attached basin set up against a fence or a wall in your yard, or the wall-mounted, self-contained version which is suspended directly on a wall. Adding a fountain to an existent wall requires that you include a fountain mask as well as a basin at the base to collect the water. Be sure to work with a specialist for this type of job since it is better not to do it yourself due to the intricate plumbing and masonry work required.
Contemporary Garden Decoration: Fountains and their Beginnings

The primary purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. 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 connected to nearby aqueduct or spring. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains operated using the force of gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a supply of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Artists thought of fountains as wonderful additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to provide clean water and honor the designer responsible for creating it. Roman fountains often depicted images of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a considerable role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains made to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Indoor plumbing became the key source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby limiting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. The creation of special water effects and the recycling of water were two things made possible by swapping gravity with mechanical pumps.
Embellishing city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the purposes of modern-day fountains.