When and Where Did Water Features Emerge?
When and Where Did Water Features Emerge? Hundreds of ancient Greek records were translated into Latin under the auspices of the scholarly Pope Nicholas V, who ruled the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455. Embellishing Rome and making it the worthy capital of the Christian world was at the core of his ambitions. In 1453 the Pope instigated the rebuilding of the Aqua Vergine, an ancient Roman aqueduct which had carried fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away. The ancient Roman custom 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 area formerly filled with a wall fountain crafted by Leon Battista Albert, an architect employed by the Pope. Changes and extensions, included in the repaired aqueduct, eventually supplied the Trevi Fountain and the well-known baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona with the necessary water supply.
The Origins Of Fountains
The Origins Of Fountains A fountain, an amazing 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.Pure practicality was the original role of fountains. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Up to the late nineteenth century, water fountains had to be near an aqueduct or reservoir and higher than the fountain so that gravity could make the water flow down or shoot high into the air.
Acting as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also provided clean, fresh drinking water. Bronze or stone masks of wildlife and heroes were commonly seen on Roman fountains. Muslims and Moorish landscaping designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller models of the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to demonstrate his superiority over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby limiting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to enable fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public areas and are used to recognize individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Keeping Your Garden Wall Fountain Tidy
Keeping Your Garden Wall Fountain Tidy Water fountains will last a long time with scheduled cleaning and maintenance. Leaves, twigs, and insects very often find their way into fountains, so it is essential to keep yours free from such debris. Additionally, anywhere light from the sun mixes with still water, algae can form. Stir hydrogen peroxide, sea salt, or vinegar into the water to avoid this particular dilemma.
Some people opt for putting bleach into the water, but the downside is that it harms wildlife - so it should be avoided. Experts suggest that the typical garden fountain undergoes a thorough scouring every three-four months. Before you can start washing it you need to empty out all of the water. When it is empty, scrub inside the reservoir with a mild cleanser. If there is intricate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Make sure all the soap is properly washed off.
Various organisms and calcium deposits may get inside the pump, so it is advised to take it apart and clean it completely. To make it less challenging, soak it in vinegar overnight before cleaning. Neither rain water nor mineral water contain ingredients that will collect inside the pump, so use either over tap water if possible.
And finally, make sure the water level is consistently full in order to keep your fountain running optimally. Allowing the water to drop below the pump’s intake level, can cause severe damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!