Aqueducts: The Remedy to Rome's Water Troubles
Aqueducts: The Remedy to Rome's Water Troubles Previous to 273, when the very first elevated aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was made in Roma, inhabitants who dwelled on hillsides had to travel further down to collect their water from natural sources. If residents residing at higher elevations did not have access to springs or the aqueduct, they’d have to count on the other existing systems of the day, cisterns that collected rainwater from the sky and subterranean wells that received the water from under ground. Starting in the sixteenth century, a newer approach was introduced, using Acqua Vergine’s subterranean portions to deliver water to Pincian Hill. During its initial building and construction, pozzi (or manholes) were placed at set intervals along the aqueduct’s channel.
The manholes made it less demanding to maintain the channel, but it was also achievable to use buckets to extract water from the aqueduct, as we saw with Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi when he owned the property from 1543 to 1552, the year he died. Reportedly, the rainwater cistern on his property wasn’t sufficient to meet his needs. Through an orifice to the aqueduct that ran below his property, he was in a position to reach his water demands.
Where did Garden Water Fountains Originate from?
Where did Garden Water Fountains Originate from? The incredible construction of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to complement your home.
Pure functionality was the original role of fountains. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to supply drinkable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains operated using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a supply of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often utilized by Romans to beautify their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden planners included fountains to create mini variations of the gardens of paradise. Fountains enjoyed a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exercise his power over nature. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Since indoor plumbing became the norm of the day for clean, drinking water, by the end of the 19th century urban fountains were no longer needed for this purpose and they became purely decorative. Gravity was replaced by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Beautifying city parks, honoring people or events and entertaining, are some of the functions of modern-day fountains.