The Earliest Documented Public Water Features of History

The Earliest Documented Public Water Features of History Earliest Documented Public Water Features History 736374989487.jpg

Water fountains were initially practical in function, used to deliver water from rivers or creeks to towns and villages, supplying the inhabitants with fresh water to drink, bathe, and prepare food with. A source of water higher in elevation than the fountain was necessary to pressurize the flow and send water spraying from the fountain's nozzle, a system without equal until the later half of the nineteenth century. Commonly used as memorials and commemorative edifices, water fountains have influenced people from all over the planet all through the ages. The common fountains of modern times bear little resemblance to the very first water fountains. Created for drinking water and ceremonial purposes, the first fountains were very simple carved stone basins. The oldest stone basins are presumed to be from around 2000 BC. The spray of water appearing from small jets was pushed by gravity, the sole power source creators had in those days. These original fountains were created to be functional, often situated along reservoirs, creeks and waterways to supply drinking water. The Romans began creating elaborate fountains in 6 BC, most of which were metallic or stone masks of wildlife and mythological representations. A well-designed system of reservoirs and aqueducts kept Rome's public fountains supplied with fresh water.

Aspects of Outdoor Sculpture in Archaic Greece

Aspects of Outdoor Sculpture in Archaic Greece The initial freestanding sculpture was developed by the Archaic Greeks, a notable achievement since until then the sole carvings in existence were reliefs cut into walls and columns. For the most part the statues, or kouros figures, were of adolescent and desirable male or female (kore) Greeks. Representing beauty to the Greeks, the kouroi were designed to appear stiff and typically had foot forward; the males were healthy, powerful, and nude. In about 650 BC, the varieties of the kouroi became life-sized. A huge era of improvement for the Greeks, the Archaic period brought about newer forms of state, expressions of artwork, and a greater appreciation of people and cultures outside of Greece. Conflicts like The Arcadian wars, the Spartan invasion of Samos, and other wars among city-states are indicative of the disruptive nature of the time, which was similar to other periods of historical disturbance. However, these conflicts did not significantly hinder the advancement of the Greek civilization.