The First Contemporary Wall Fountains

The First Contemporary Wall Fountains First Contemporary Wall Fountains 443095655.jpg

Hundreds of ancient Greek documents were translated into Latin under the authority of the scholarly Pope Nicholas V, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1397 to 1455. He undertook the beautification of Rome to make it into the model seat of the Christian world. Restoration of the Acqua Vergine, a ruined Roman aqueduct which had carried clean drinking water into the city from eight miles away, began in 1453 at the bidding of the Pope. Building a mostra, a grandiose commemorative fountain built by ancient Romans to memorialize the entry point of an aqueduct, was a custom revived by Nicholas V. The present-day site of the Trevi Fountain was formerly occupied by a wall fountain commissioned by the Pope and built by the architect Leon Battista Alberti. Changes and extensions, included in the restored aqueduct, eventually provided the Trevi Fountain and the well-known baroque fountains in the Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Navona with the necessary water supply.

Bernini’s Early Italian Fountains

Bernini’s Early Italian Fountains The Barcaccia, Bernini's very first water fountain, is a striking chef d'oeuvre built at the base of the Trinita dei Monti in Piaza di Spagna. To this day, this area is flooded with Roman locals and travelers alike who enjoy debate and each other's company. Bernini would undoubtedly have been happy to know that people still flock to what has become one the city's trendiest areas, that around his amazing water fountain. The master's first fountain of his professional life was built at around 1630 at the request of Pope Urbano VIII. An enormous boat slowly sinking into the Mediterranean is the fountain's main theme. Period reports dating back to the 16th century show that the fountain was constructed as a monument to those who lost their lives in the great flooding of the Tevere. In 1665 Bernini journeyed to France, in what was to be his sole lengthy absence from Italy.

The Early Culture: Fountains

The Early Culture: Fountains A variety of kinds of conduits have been found through archaeological excavations on the isle of Crete, the birthplace of Minoan civilization. They were used for water supply as well as removal of storm water and wastewater. Virtually all were created from clay or even rock. Terracotta was used for waterways and pipelines, both rectangle-shaped and round. There are a couple of examples of Minoan terracotta piping, those with a shortened cone form and a U-shape that haven’t been caught in any civilization ever since. Terracotta pipes were used to circulate water at Knossos Palace, running up to three meters under the floors. The water pipes also had other functions including gathering water and channeling it to a central place for storage. This required the terracotta piping to be suitable for holding water without leaking. Below ground Water Transportation: Initially this process would seem to have been created not quite for convenience but rather to provide water for certain individuals or rites without it being observed. Quality Water Transportation: The conduits could furthermore have been utilized to move water to fountains that were separate from the city’s normal technique.

Water Features Found in Historical Documents

Water Features Found in Historical Documents Villages and villages depended on practical water fountains to funnel water for preparing food, washing, and cleaning from nearby sources like ponds, channels, or springs. Water Features Found Historical Documents 5508988028170460.jpg

Water Features Found Historical Documents 5508988028170460.jpg

Gravity was the power source of water fountains up until the conclusion of the 19th century, using the forceful power of water traveling down hill from a spring or brook to squeeze the water through valves or other outlets. Fountains spanning history have been designed as memorials, impressing local citizens and tourists alike. Crude in design, the very first water fountains did not appear much like present fountains. A stone basin, crafted from rock, was the very first fountain, used for holding water for drinking and ceremonial purposes. The earliest stone basins are presumed to be from around 2000 BC. The jet of water appearing from small spouts was pressured by gravity, the lone power source designers had in those days. Drinking water was provided by public fountains, long before fountains became elaborate public statues, as attractive as they are practical. The Romans began creating elaborate fountains in 6 B.C., most of which were bronze or natural stone masks of creatures and mythological representations. Water for the communal fountains of Rome was delivered to the city via a complex system of water aqueducts.