565. The Fountains of Rome by Morton. Pausanias, who wrote what might be one of the first travel guides in 150 A.D. says that no city deserves the name which lacks fountains. Springs became special places where nymphs were sited or reputed to live. These springs were in a natural setting and when Rome built her own, large fountains took the name nymphaeum. Some of these were huge. One in Lepcis Magna was nearly 150 feet in length. Water poured out over sculpture made from rare marble and were set in niches and settings which took advantage of light and the colors of the surrounding marbles. These were indeed not the fountains for the rich but for all citizens. Fountains began small such as the fountain outside the Porta Capena near Rome. Nymphs lived in Springs near Rome too. One nymph, Egeria, by name spoke to Numa Pompilius, an early king of Rome. She gave him laws. Clever, laws from from a spring, a divine source. For years Rome worked fine with springs and wells.
But as time passed, Rome expanded and wells did not supply sufficient amounts fast enough. Around 300 B.C. the Censors, Appius Claudius and Plautius began the construction of Rome’s first aqueduct. Their term ended before the aqueduct was finished. However, to make sure it bore his name, Appius refused to resign from office and saw the aqueduct to conclusion. It is called the Aqua Appia. The Claudians were a haughty group. The aqueduct was 10 miles in length. Then Romans built the Aqua Anio Vetus, forty miles in length 272-269 B.C. This was built on the heals of the Pyrrhic Wars. Rome was now a major power not only in Italy but was a major player in the Mediterranean. A bump in population required more water.
144-140 B.C. came the Aqua Marcia- fifty six miles long. Aqua Tepula in 125 B.C. eleven miles, to save time and money this one road on top of the Marcia part of the way. 33 B.C. Aqua Julia, Aqua Virgo 19 B.C., Aqua Alsietina in 2 B.C., poor quality used for lakes and sewers, Aqua Claudia in 52 A.D., 43 miles long. Aqua Anio Novus in 52 A.D. 54 miles long, It road on top of the Claudia. Aqua Trajana in 109 A.D. was 35 miles long and the Aqua Alexandria in 226 A.D. was 14 miles long. So in 410 A.D. there were 11 aqueducts supplying water to 1,212 fountains, 11 thermae which are gigantic baths, and 926 baths. This does not count fountains in homes or water routed to homes. All eleven aqueducts ended in a castellum. These were large water displays complete with statues and decoration. They were often named after a statue in the fountain: Fountain of Prometheus, Fountain of the Ox of Myron, etc.
Ancient survivors:
Pine Cone in Vatican
Marforio in Capitoline Museum
Nile and Tiber River fountains on the Campidoglio
Meta Sudans near the arch of Constantine
Fountain of Juturna in the Forum Romanum
Julia- remains are in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele near Termini.
Castor and Pollux with their cone hats are now on the Quirinal. Their hats are half eggs of the swan which represents their mother, Leda the Swan.
Some of these are not functioning. Many have reduced settings. But enough survived to give ideas to Popes. By the middle Ages the aqueducts were no longer working except the Aqua Virgo. It only served lower lying areas. Thus many of the hills of Rome were deserted.
None of the following descriptions are meant to be exhaustive.
The following are the terminus fountains for present aqueducts:
Trevi for the Vergine Antica (old Virgo)
Moses for the Felice
Paul V for Paola
Naiads for Pia Marcia
Pincian Hill for Vergine Nuova
Piazzale degli Eroi for the Peschiera.
Trevi, La Barcaccia in Spagna, Tortoise in Piazza Mattei, Pantheon, Piazza Colona (Column of Marcus Aurelius) are all fed by new and old Vergine. Nichola Salvi designed the Trevi.
These fountains add the sounds of life to any area they grace. Nothing beats the ambiance created by these human wonders.
There is a habit of throwing coins into fountains- particularly the Trevi for legend has it that those who do so return to Rome. It has worked for me I have been there nine times. The origin of this habit may stretch back to antiquity for fountains have been discovered where excavations have shown that they are literally clogged with coin from past distant centuries. I saw one of these fountains at the Palazzo Massimo in Rome.
In the Piazza del Popolo, named for the church near by, the fountain in the middle is fed by Vergine Nuovo and the fountain on the Pincian Hill by the Antica.
The Tortoise Fountain perhaps designed by Raphael is delightful. Four lads slip small tortoises up into the bowl above them.
Vergine Nuova feeds the La Barcaccia designed by Bernini. Pressure is low here so the boat is sunken and water comes out without fuss or much fanfare. But the fountains is loved and admired.
The Aqua Felice took water to the Quirinal. This aqueduct feeds the Moses near San Bernardo (once part of baths of Diocletian) and the fountains at Monte Cavallo where Castor and Pollux are, the Quattro Fontane near San Carlo (perhaps the most interesting church in Rome), the Bocca della Verita in Forum Boarium.
The Acqua Paola feeds right side of Tiber. It carries water to the Janiculum Hill. This means that there is much pressure to work with for fountains. The taste is poor but the Mostra, the terminus for the aqueduct is impressive and well worth seeing. In fact the view of Rome here is stunning. This supplies water for the tree fountains in the Piazza Navona. The one in the middle was designed by Bernini. It is called the four Rivers. The obelisk in the center of the group is from the Circus of Maxentius out on the Appian Way (Via Appia). It is the only obelisk with an image of the emperor- it happens to be Domitian. But all of the information is in egyptian hieroglyphics. The rivers are identified thus:
Danube- 3 lilies, dove, olive, horse
Ganges- tranquil, serpent
Nile- veiled head (the source was not found for several more centuries), lion
Plate for Americas -new world) looking surprised, armadillo- it is clear that Bernini had not ever seen an armadillo.
In the Piazza Farnese there is a fountain which uses a huge tub from the baths of Caracalla. The center piece was perhaps designed by Rainaldi. This is considered one of the most elegant fountains in Rome. The jets are designed to complement the shape and design of the tub. The Palace has material from Aurelius Temple of the Sun, verde antico columns are from a bath house near Tivoli.
On the Piazza dei Quiriti is a fountain well worth seeing. 4 nude woman hold up a lotus.
La Pigna (The Pine Cone) is from the time Augustus. It is bronze, gilded in antiquity. Engraved P. Cincius P.L. Calvius fecit. 11 feet high. Originally had 4 peacocks with it, two survive.
The two fountains in St. Peter’s Square were built at different times but look very similar.
The Fountain of the Naiads in Piazza Re Publica is fed by Acqua Pia Antica Marcia. This is the aqua Marcia but now runs in cast iron pipes. Back to the fountain. The Naiads are modeled after women who lived in a town near Rome. All maidens are of bronze:
Nymph of the Lakes- swan
nymph of the Ocean- sea horse
Nymph of the Rivers- water snake
Nymph of the Subterranean- reptile
Fountains with Bees on them represent the Barberini family.
There are several interesting fountains in Borghese Gardens.
Most obelisks are associated with fountains:
The Vatican- 83 feet brought to Rome by Caligula.
Lateran obelisk is world’s tallest at 105 feet. Originally in Circus Maximus. Constantius, son of Constantine, brought it to Rome.
Piazza del Popolo- 79 feet. Originally in Circus Maximus
Piazza Navona- 54 feet. Originally in front of temple of Isis and Serapis, then moved in antiquity to Circus of Maxentius.
Pantheon- 20 feet. Originally forecourt of Temple of Isis and Serapis.
Monte Cavallo- 50 feet. Once was in front of tomb of Augustus.
The obelisk at the Montecitorio is the obelisk used to power Augustus’ sundial.
There is a fountain in the Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne near the Piazza Navona. Venus is displayed in an architectural setting. This just might be s survivor from the time of Hadrian.
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