Aqueducts: The Remedy to Rome's Water Challenges
Aqueducts: The Remedy to Rome's Water Challenges Rome’s 1st elevated aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was built in 273 BC; prior to that, residents living at higher elevations had to rely on local creeks for their water. If residents living at higher elevations did not have access to springs or the aqueduct, they’d have to depend on the other existing systems of the time, cisterns that accumulated rainwater from the sky and subterranean wells that drew the water from below ground. In the early sixteenth century, the city began to make use of the water that ran below the ground through Acqua Vergine to supply drinking water to Pincian Hill. Pozzi, or manholes, were constructed at regular intervals along the aqueduct’s channel.
Whilst these manholes were developed to make it easier to conserve the aqueduct, it was also feasible to use containers to remove water from the channel, which was done by Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi from the time he invested in the property in 1543 to his passing in 1552. Although the cardinal also had a cistern to amass rainwater, it didn’t supply enough water. To provide himself with a much more practical way to gather water, he had one of the manholes opened, offering him access to the aqueduct below his residence.
Where did Fountains Begin?
Where did Fountains Begin? The dramatic or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, as well as supplying drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.The primary purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Water fountains were linked to a spring or aqueduct to provide potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to decorate living areas and memorialize the artist. Roman fountains often 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 versions of the gardens of paradise.
King Louis XIV of France wanted to illustrate his superiority over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. 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 location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Urban fountains built at the end of the nineteenth served only as decorative and celebratory ornaments since indoor plumbing provided the essential drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity allowed fountains to provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Contemporary fountains are used to embellish public spaces, honor individuals or events, and enrich recreational and entertainment events.
Select from Many Exterior Wall Fountain Designs
Select from Many Exterior Wall Fountain Designs If you want to have a place to relax and add some flair to a small area such as a patio or courtyard, wall fountains are perfect because they do not take up much space. Conventional, antique, contemporary, or Asian are just a few of the styles you can pick from when looking for an outdoor wall fountain to your liking. If you are looking for a distinctive design, a customized one can be specially made to fit your specifications. Mounted and free-standing fountains are readily available on the market. You can hang a mounted wall fountain because they are small and self-contained. Fountains of this kind need to be lightweight, therefore, they are usually made of resin (resembling stone) or fiberglass. Large-sized free-standing wall fountains, commonly referred to as floor fountains, have their basins positioned on the floor and a smooth side leaning on a wall. Typically constructed of cast stone, this style of water feature is not limited in weight.
Many skilled landscapers favor custom-built fountains which can be integrated into a brand-new wall or an existing one. Employing an expert mason is your best option to build the basin and install the required plumbing. You will need to incorporate a spout or fountain mask into the wall. A tailor-made wall fountain blends into the landscape instead of standing out because it was a later addition, which adds to a cohesive appearance.