Water Fountains Lost to History
Water Fountains Lost to History Water fountains were originally practical in function, used to convey water from rivers or springs to cities and villages, supplying the residents with clean water to drink, wash, and cook with. To generate water flow through a fountain until the end of the 1800’s, and create a jet of water, demanded the force of gravity and a water source such as a spring or lake, positioned higher than the fountain. The appeal and spectacle of fountains make them ideal for historic monuments. The contemporary fountains of modern times bear little resemblance to the first water fountains. Created for drinking water and ceremonial purposes, the 1st fountains were simple carved stone basins.
Stone basins are theorized to have been 1st made use of around 2000 BC. Early fountains put to use in ancient civilizations relied on gravity to control the movement of water through the fountain. The location of the fountains was determined by the water source, which is why you’ll commonly find them along reservoirs, canals, or streams. Fountains with ornamental Gods, mythological monsters, and creatures began to show up in Rome in about 6 B.C., made from stone and bronze. The remarkable aqueducts of Rome supplied water to the spectacular public fountains, most of which you can visit today.
Where did Fountains Come From?
Where did Fountains Come From?
The amazing or decorative effect of a fountain is just one of the purposes it fulfills, in addition to supplying drinking water and adding a decorative touch to your property. From the beginning, outdoor fountains were soley there to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from the power of gravity. Designers thought of fountains as amazing additions to a living space, however, the fountains also served to supply clean water and honor the artist responsible for building it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often utilized by Romans to decorate their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. To demonstrate his dominance over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. Seventeen and 18 century Popes sought to extol their positions by adding beautiful baroque-style fountains at the point where restored Roman aqueducts arrived into the city.
Since indoor plumbing became the standard 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 enable 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.
Acqua Vergine: The Remedy to Rome's Water Problems
Acqua Vergine: The Remedy to Rome's Water Problems Rome’s first elevated aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was built in 273 BC; before that, inhabitants residing at higher elevations had to depend on local springs for their water. Outside of these aqueducts and springs, wells and rainwater-collecting cisterns were the lone technologies around at the time to supply water to segments of high elevation. In the very early sixteenth century, the city began to utilize the water that ran below the ground through Acqua Vergine to furnish drinking water to Pincian Hill.
The aqueduct’s channel was made accessible by pozzi, or manholes, that were installed along its length when it was initially built. Whilst these manholes were provided to make it much easier to preserve the aqueduct, it was also feasible to use containers to extract water from the channel, which was exercised by Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi from the time he acquired the property in 1543 to his passing in 1552. Whilst the cardinal also had a cistern to get rainwater, it couldn't supply sufficient water. By using an orifice to the aqueduct that flowed under his property, he was set to fulfill his water needs.