Outdoor Water Features Lost to History

Water fountains were originally practical in function, used to convey water from rivers or creeks to towns and villages, supplying the residents with clean water to drink, bathe, and cook with. To produce water flow through a fountain until the late 1800’s, and produce a jet of water, mandated the force of gravity and a water source such as a spring or lake, located higher than the fountain. Fountains throughout history have been crafted as memorials, impressing local citizens and travelers alike. If you saw the first fountains, you wouldn't identify them as fountains. Simple stone basins created from local stone were the first fountains, used for religious ceremonies and drinking water. 2,000 a knockout post BC is when the oldest known stone fountain basins were originally used. The first fountains used in ancient civilizations relied on gravity to regulate the circulation of water through the fountain. These original fountains were built to be functional, frequently situated along aqueducts, creeks and rivers to furnish drinking water. The people of Rome began constructing ornate fountains in 6 BC, most of which were metallic or stone masks of wildlife and mythological characters. The City of Rome had an intricate system of aqueducts that provided the water for the many fountains that were situated throughout the city.