The Source of Modern Day Fountains
The Source of Modern Day Fountains Himself a learned man, Pope Nicholas V led the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 till 1455 and was responsible for the translation of hundreds of age-old texts from their original Greek into Latin. He undertook the beautification of Rome to make it into the model capital of the Christian world. Reconstruction of the Acqua Vergine, a desolate Roman aqueduct which had carried fresh drinking water into the city from eight miles away, began in 1453 at the bidding of the Pope. The ancient Roman tradition of building an imposing commemorative fountain at the location where an aqueduct arrived, also known as a mostra, was revived by Nicholas V. The Trevi Fountain now occupies the space previously filled with a wall fountain built by Leon Battista Albert, an architect employed by the Pope.
Statuary As a Staple of Classic Art in Archaic Greece
Statuary As a Staple of Classic Art in Archaic Greece The Archaic Greeks developed the first freestanding statuary, an amazing achievement as most sculptures up until then had been reliefs cut into walls and pillars. Most of these freestanding sculptures were what is known as kouros figures, statues of young, attractive male or female (kore) Greeks. Considered by Greeks to characterize splendour, the kouroi were shaped into firm, forward facing positions with one foot outstretched, and the male statues were always nude, muscular, and athletic. Around 650 BC, life-sized versions of the kouroi began to be observed. A massive era of improvement for the Greeks, the Archaic period helped bring about more forms of state, expressions of artwork, and a greater appreciation of people and customs outside of Greece. Still, these conflicts did little to hamper the advancement of the Greek civilization.The Minoan Culture: Outdoor Fountains
The Minoan Culture: Outdoor Fountains Various types and designs of conduits have been discovered through archaeological excavations on the island of Crete, the cradle of Minoan society. These were utilized to supply urban centers with water as well as to minimize flooding and get rid of waste material. They were for the most part built from terracotta or rock. Terracotta was utilized for canals and pipelines, both rectangular and spherical. These consisted of cone-like and U-shaped clay piping that were distinctive to the Minoans.