The Roman Influence on Outdoor Wall Fountains

The Roman Influence on Outdoor Wall Fountains

Artists of modern outdoor wall fountains often pay tribute to ancient Roman fountains by continuing the tradition of carving ancient Roman gods and goddesses into their pieces. The combination of these designs with water, an element that was so important to the ancient Romans that it was worshipped, truly harkens back to the ancient history of Rome.

The ancient Romans built an extensive system of aqueducts for the practical reason of supplying water for drinking, bathing, washing, and irrigation. With a population of more than a million people, such a water supply was necessary for survival. The evolution of these aqueducts helped to advance the technology of fountains, including the outdoor wall fountains of today.

The first Roman aqueducts depended solely on gravity. By channeling water from the hills surrounding Rome, water was gravity fed into the city. Eventually, water was siphoned through closed lead pipes, which created enough pressure to force the water further distances as well as up and over valleys. While Royalty and the wealthy had water directly siphoned to their homes, the public had access to fountains situated throughout the city.

The Romans learned how to make water jet into the air through the force of pressure. Soon, the fountains of the rich featured jets of water that made each piece more fanciful. Paintings of Roman garden and bathing fountains often display dynamic water scenes.

An example of a Roman fountain that can still be visited today is the Fontana della Pigna. This fountain dates back to the 1st century AD. While it was originally built alongside the Temple of Isis in the Roman Forum, it was eventually moved between the Belvedere Palace and the Vatican Palace, on the Cortile della Pigna where it can now be seen.

Modern-day fountain enthusiasts often choose to add a little bit of Roman history to their own backyards by installing an outdoor wall fountain. The elegance and charm of such an art piece often becomes the focal point of a garden or backyard setting. While the face of such fountains might feature ancient Roman designs, the driving force behind the water, although influenced by Roman technology, has advanced to some degree. The water flows down into a basin by gravity, but is siphoned back to the fountain head by a water pump driven by electricity. There are also outdoor fountains that make use of the sun's energy by using solar power.

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