A Brief History of the First Outdoor Garden Fountains
A Brief History of the First Outdoor Garden Fountains Villages and communities relied on working water fountains to channel water for preparing food, washing, and cleaning from local sources like lakes, channels, or springs. In the days before electricity, the spray of fountains was powered by gravity alone, usually using an aqueduct or water source located far away in the surrounding mountains. Commonly used as monuments and commemorative structures, water fountains have influenced travelers from all over the world throughout the ages. The contemporary fountains of modern times bear little resemblance to the first water fountains. A natural stone basin, carved from rock, was the first fountain, used for containing water for drinking and religious purposes. Stone basins are theorized to have been first utilized around 2000 BC.
The spraying of water emerging from small jets was pressured by gravity, the only power source designers had in those days. These ancient water fountains were built to be functional, frequently situated along aqueducts, creeks and rivers to furnish drinking water. Fountains with ornate decoration started to show up in Rome in approx. 6 B.C., usually gods and animals, made with natural stone or copper-base alloy. Water for the public fountains of Rome arrived to the city via a complex system of water aqueducts.
A Chronicle of Garden Water Fountains
A Chronicle of Garden Water Fountains Pope Nicholas V, himself a well educated man, governed the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455 during which time he commissioned many translations of ancient classic Greek documents into Latin. Beautifying Rome and making it the worthy capital of the Christian world was at the core of his objectives.
In 1453 the Pope instigated the reconstruction of the Aqua Vergine, an historic 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 restored by Nicholas V. The present-day location of the Trevi Fountain was formerly occupied by a wall fountain commissioned by the Pope and built by the architect Leon Battista Alberti. The water which eventually supplied the Trevi Fountain as well as the acclaimed baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona flowed from the modified aqueduct which he had renovated.
The Various Construction Materials of Large Outdoor Fountains
The Various Construction Materials of Large Outdoor Fountains While today’s garden fountains are made in a number of materials, most are made from metal. Metallic fountains, with their clean lines and sculptural accents, come in in a variety of metals and can accommodate any style or budget. The interior design of your residence should determine the look and feel of your yard and garden as well. One of the most common metals for sculptural garden fountains these days is copper. Copper fountains are the ideal choice because they are perfect for the inside and outside. Another benefit of copper fountains is they are flexible and come in a wide range of styles.
Brass water fountains are also common, although they tend to have a more conventional look than copper ones. Although it is not the most stylish, the creatures and sculptural features you find on fountains are commonly made of brass, thus making them very popular.
Of all the metals, stainless steel is seen as the most contemporary-looking. Adding a modern-looking steel design will immediately add value to your garden and enhance the overall atmosphere. Just like other water features, they come in a variety of sizes.
For people who want the visual appeal of a metal fountain but prefer a lighter weight and more affordable option, fiberglass is the answer. It is simple to clean and maintain a fiberglass water fountain, yet another reason they are common.