There are several legends related to fountains. One concept and myth about fountains in which they provide people with everlasting youth and immortality. The first ever known version of the Fountain of Youth dates back from 400BC century from the Greek Historian, Herodotus, documenting a fountain in Ethiopia that elongates the lives of the Ethiopians. Of all the tales of different fountains of youth, none is more popular than that of the time of Juan Ponce de Leon and the Spanish Conquistadors from the Caribbean in the 16th century. After setting up colonies in the Caribbean, Ponce de Leon has yearned to seek for the Fountain of Youth which he heard about from the local populous. He then launched an expedition in search of the miraculous fountain but never found it. There has been no concrete evidence that the Fountain of Youth ever existed. According to ancient records, the Mayans were the guardians of the Fountain of Youth and still managed to keep it hidden even after the fall of their empire. The Fountain of Youth in today's modern time is only a myth. But people are still looking for ways to reverse the process of aging which is often deemed "The Fountain of Youth" as a metaphor. Even before the legend of the Fountain of youth has captivated the minds of people, garden fountains have been on everyone's backyards, city streets and public places. The popularity of fountains has been influenced by different aspects of traditions, beliefs and societies. The most dominant factor why fountains are sought after is the exceptional beauty they bring to a place. Fountains are popular to everyone, of all ages, and attract all sorts of persons and even animals. Public places like plazas, parks and public squares are the popular areas to have fountains. The Trevi Fountain located in Italy is one of the most popular fountains in the world. This historical wonder is a crowded tourist attraction where people gather together to take pictures or to simply experience its one of a kind beauty. Thanks to the old Roman style of craftsmanship, artistry and architecture, the Trevi Fountain is none like any other. In 1732, Nicola Salvi started the fountain's construction by order of Pop Clement XII. Salvi's craftsmanship of the Trevi fountain was that of the Baroque style of architecture which also originated in Italy. The most distinct feature of a baroque architecture are statues of ancient Roman gods which are very much alive in the Trevi Fountain's centerpiece. Neptune, Roman god of the sea, stands at the center of the fountain. The other statues around Neptune are clever metaphors of nature related to the god of the sea. The two sea horses on the left and the right of Neptune represent obedience and calmness, and the other one represents restiveness. The Trevi fountain was completed in 1762. The Trevi Fountain has also been featured in plenty of movies and it has been the iconic setting for the 1954 movie "Three Coins in the Fountain." It is believed that throwing a coin in the Trevi Fountain will take you back to Rome again.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
