Early Crete & The Minoans: Water Features
Early Crete & The Minoans: Water Features Archaeological digs in Minoan Crete in Greece have exposed several varieties of conduits. They were used for water supply as well as removal of storm water and wastewater. Rock and terracotta were the materials of choice for these conduits. When made from terracotta, they were commonly in the format of canals and circular or rectangle-shaped conduits. There are two examples of Minoan terracotta piping, those with a shortened cone shape and a U-shape that have not been seen in any civilization since.
Knossos Palace had an sophisticated plumbing network made of clay piping which ran up to three meters below ground. These Minoan pipelines were also used for gathering and storing water, not just circulation. Therefore, these piping had to be able to: Subterranean Water Transportation: It’s not quite known why the Minoans wanted to move water without it being enjoyed. Quality Water Transportation: Considering the proof, a number of historians suggest that these conduits were not hooked up to the prevalent water allocation system, providing the residence with water from a distinctive source.
Contemporary Garden Decor: Fountains and their Beginnings
Contemporary Garden Decor: Fountains and their Beginnings
The dramatic or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to delivering drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property. From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley meant to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. 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 the power of gravity. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to adorn homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Roman fountains usually depicted imagery 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 models of the gardens of paradise. To show his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to glorify 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. The introduction of special water effects and the recycling of water were 2 things made possible by replacing gravity with mechanical pumps.
Contemporary fountains are used to adorn community spaces, honor individuals or events, and enrich recreational and entertainment events.
Your Outdoor Living Area: An Ideal Place for a Fountain
Your Outdoor Living Area: An Ideal Place for a Fountain The addition of a wall fountain or an outdoor garden fountain is a great way to embellish your yard or garden design. Historical fountains and water features have sparked the notice of modern-day designers as well as fountain designers. As such, introducing one of these to your interior is a great way to connect it to the past. Among the many properties of these beautiful garden water features is the water and moisture they discharge into the air which attracts birds and other wild life as well as helps to balance the ecosystem. For instance, irksome flying insects are usually deterred by the birds attracted to the fountain or birdbath.Putting in a wall fountain is your best solution for a little backyard because a spouting or cascading fountain occupies too much space. You can choose to set up a stand-alone fountain with a flat back and an attached basin propped against a fence or wall in your backyard, or a wall-mounted type which is self-contained and suspended from a wall. Adding a fountain to an existing wall requires that you include a fountain mask as well as a basin at the base to gather the water.
The plumbing and masonry work necessary for this type of work requires training, so it is best to hire a skilled person rather than go at it yourself.