A Concise History of the First Water Features
A Concise History of the First Water Features Water fountains were at first practical in purpose, used to deliver water from canals or creeks to towns and hamlets, supplying the inhabitants with clean water to drink, bathe, and cook with. Gravity was the power supply of water fountains up until the close of the 19th century, using the potent power of water traveling down hill from a spring or brook to squeeze the water through valves or other outlets. The appeal and wonder of fountains make them appropriate for traditional monuments. When you encounter a fountain today, that is definitely not what the 1st water fountains looked like. The very first known water fountain was a natural stone basin carved that served as a container for drinking water and ceremonial purposes.
Natural stone basins as fountains have been found from 2,000 B.C.. The earliest civilizations that made use of fountains relied on gravity to drive water through spigots. Positioned near aqueducts or springs, the functional public water fountains furnished the local population with fresh drinking water. Fountains with embellished Gods, mythological monsters, and animals began to show up in Rome in about 6 B.C., crafted from rock and bronze. The impressive aqueducts of Rome delivered water to the spectacular public fountains, most of which you can go see today.
The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains
The Origins Of Outdoor Fountains
A water fountain is an architectural piece that pours water into a basin or jets it high into the air in order to provide drinking water, as well as for decorative purposes. From the beginning, outdoor fountains were simply there to serve as functional elements. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to provide them with potable water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Up until the nineteenth, fountains had to be more elevated and closer to a water source, such as aqueducts and reservoirs, in order to benefit from gravity which fed the fountains. Fountains were an optimal source of water, and also served to adorn living areas and memorialize the artist. Roman fountains usually depicted images of animals or heroes made of metal or stone masks. 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. To mark the entrance of the restored Roman aqueducts, the Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries commissioned the construction of baroque style fountains in the spot where the aqueducts arrived in the city of Rome
The end of the 19th century saw the rise in usage of indoor plumbing to supply drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Contemporary fountains are used to adorn community spaces, honor individuals or events, and enrich recreational and entertainment events.