The Origins Of Fountains
The Origins Of Fountains A fountain, an amazing piece of engineering, not only supplies drinking water as it pours into a basin, it can also launch water high into the air for an extraordinary effect.Pure functionality was the original purpose of fountains. 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. Used until the nineteenth century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their source of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Fountains were an excellent source of water, and also served to decorate living areas and memorialize the artist. Bronze or stone masks of wildlife and heroes were commonly seen on Roman fountains.
During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to mimic the gardens of paradise. To demonstrate his prominence over nature, French King Louis XIV included fountains in the Garden of Versailles. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the spot where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
Indoor plumbing became the key source of water by the end of the 19th century thereby limiting urban fountains to mere decorative elements. Gravity was substituted by mechanical pumps in order to permit fountains to bring in clean water and allow for amazing water displays.
Nowadays, fountains adorn public spaces and are used to honor individuals or events and fill recreational and entertainment needs.
Acqua Vergine: The Remedy to Rome's Water Troubles
Acqua Vergine: The Remedy to Rome's Water Troubles Rome’s first elevated aqueduct, Aqua Anio Vetus, was built in 273 BC; before that, inhabitants living at higher elevations had to depend on local springs for their water. Throughout this time period, there were only 2 other technologies capable of delivering water to elevated areas, subterranean wells and cisterns, which accumulated rainwater.
In the early 16th century, the city began to make use of the water that ran below the ground through Acqua Vergine to deliver water to Pincian Hill. The aqueduct’s channel was made accessible by pozzi, or manholes, that were installed along its length when it was first built. While these manholes were created to make it less difficult to protect the aqueduct, it was also possible to use buckets to remove water from the channel, which was carried out by Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi from the time he obtained the property in 1543 to his death in 1552. He didn’t get an adequate amount water from the cistern that he had manufactured on his residential property to obtain rainwater. That is when he made a decision to create an access point to the aqueduct that ran below his residence.
Interior Wall Water Elements are Ideal for Home or Workplace
Interior Wall Water Elements are Ideal for Home or Workplace One way to accentuate your home with a modern twist is by installing an indoor wall fountain to your living area. You can create a noise-free, stressless and relaxing setting for your family, friends and clients by installing this type of fountain. Putting in one of these interior wall water features will also gain the attention and appreciation your staff and clients alike. An interior water element is certain to captivate all those who see it while also impressing your loudest naysayers. You can relish in the peace and quiet after a long day at work and enjoy watching your favorite program while relaxing under your wall fountain. The musical sounds produced by an indoor water feature are known to discharge negative ions, remove dust and pollen from the air as well as sooth and pacify those close by.