The First Garden Water Fountains of Human History
The First Garden Water Fountains of Human History Water fountains were at first practical in purpose, used to bring water from canals or creeks to towns and hamlets, supplying the inhabitants with fresh water to drink, wash, and cook with. The force of gravity was the power supply of water fountains up until the end of the 19th century, using the potent power of water traveling down hill from a spring or brook to force the water through spigots or other outlets. The elegance and spectacle of fountains make them appropriate for historical monuments. The common fountains of modern times bear little similarity to the very first water fountains. Simple stone basins created from nearby rock were the very first fountains, used for spiritual functions and drinking water. 2000 B.C. is when the oldest identified stone fountain basins were originally used. The very first civilizations that used fountains depended on gravity to push water through spigots. Drinking water was delivered by public fountains, long before fountains became elaborate public monuments, as beautiful as they are practical. The people of Rome began creating decorative fountains in 6 B.C., most of which were bronze or stone masks of wildlife and mythological characters.
Early Crete & The Minoans: Water Features
Early Crete & The Minoans: Water Features
Modern Garden Decoration: Fountains and their Roots
Modern Garden Decoration: Fountains and their Roots The dramatic or ornamental effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, as well as supplying drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property.
The main purpose of a fountain was originally strictly functional. Water fountains were connected to a spring or aqueduct to supply potable water as well as bathing water for cities, townships and villages. Until the late 19th, century most water fountains functioned using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the designer. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times used by Romans to beautify their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. Fountains played a significant role in the Gardens of Versailles, all part of French King Louis XIV’s desire to exert his power over nature. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were extolled with baroque style fountains constructed to mark the place of entry of Roman aqueducts.
Indoor plumbing became the main source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby restricting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity enabled fountains to provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Modern fountains are used to embellish community spaces, honor individuals or events, and enrich recreational and entertainment events.
The Dispersion of Water Feature Design Technology
The Dispersion of Water Feature Design Technology Dissiminating pragmatic hydraulic information and fountain design ideas all through Europe was accomplished with the published documents and illustrated books of the time. An un-named French water fountain developer was an internationally famed hydraulic pioneer in the later part of the 1500's.