History of Fountains

Outdoor fountains draw inspiration from the natural springs they emulate. They celebrate water's life source with a naturally rhythmic splash or trickle that brings a refreshing calm to humans. From the earliest garden fountains found in ancient Egypt, to Rome's masterful Trevi Fountain, to the glass towers of Chicago's Crown Fountain, outdoor fountains have connected with man on aesthetic, social, and spiritual levels that resound today.

The purpose and pleasure

The fountain's ancestry is part practicality and part artistry. Mesopotamians sought relief from their severe landscape with luxuriant gardens accented, as well as irrigated, by fountains. The legendary Roman aqueducts poured into outdoor fountains where people gathered socially to bathe, drink, and cook. In time, the fountain's domain of practicality invited more altruistic intentions. Public and private outdoor fountains became public memorials for civic leaders, commemoration of historical events, and the embodiment of social ideals. Outdoor fountains grew from nourishing the body to nourishing the mind and spirit as well.

Bringing the inspiration home

Whether the fountain of youth or a wishing well, in a private garden or a civic courtyard, outdoor fountains will always be a symbol of renewal, life, and hope. So it's only natural that those who seek the healing qualities of meditation would consider an outdoor fountain an integral part of their home oasis.