From antiquity to the present day: The magic of fountains

There's something special about the shimmer, the sound, and the almost perfect, elegant curve of water fountains. Whether in Minoan palace courtyards , Persian gardens, Roman aqueducts , or modern squares, fountains have always been more than mere decoration: sacred, symbolic, meeting places, and, in recent years, welcome cooling-off points in overheated cities .

From practical to divine

Fountains have existed for almost 5,000 years. Initially, they served primarily practical purposes. Around 2,000 BC, spring water was channeled through clay pipes into stepped basins in the ancient palaces of Knossos and Zakros on Crete. These basins were not only used for washing; they also hosted religious purification rituals.

Fountains also appeared in ancient Egypt , often with lion heads as gargoyles - a motif that later shaped Greco-Roman and Islamic traditions. A famous example is the Court of Lions in the Moorish Alhambra in Granada . Since the 14th century, twelve lions have been "spitting" water into the central fountain. Lions represented strength and divine protection—making the lion motif perfect for gargoyles on palaces and magnificent entrance gates.

Fountains and watercourses played a central role in traditional Islamic gardens. They reflected the concept of paradise as enshrined in the Quran and represented purity, life, and divine beauty. Inspired by the Moorish-Muslim Nasrid dynasty in Granada and the Persian Sassanids, such gardens were intended to radiate spiritual harmony and happiness—the sound of fountains was a natural part of this.

Symbolism and self-representation

In Europe, the Renaissance and Baroque periods transformed fountains into veritable symbols of power. Rome's fountains are particularly famous: Bernini's "Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi", or "Four Rivers Fountain" in Piazza Navona represents the four major rivers known to cartographers of the time: the Nile for Africa, the Ganges for Asia, the Danube for Europe and the Río de la Plata for America.

The Trevi Fountain , completed in 1762, is now a pop star among monumental fountains – not least because of the legend that throwing a coin into it guarantees a return to Rome. This legend was fueled by the American film "Three Coins in the Fountain" (1954). The most famous fountain scene, however, was in Federico Fellini's 1960 film "La Dolce Vita" (The Sweet Life). In this classic film, Anita Ekberg and Marcello Mastroianni take a nighttime bath in the Trevi Fountain. This is one of the most famous scenes in film history, and one that has contributed significantly to the fountain's popularity among tourists. It's rare to be lucky enough to see the entire fountain, as the piazza in front of the Trevi Fountain is usually overcrowded.

In Istanbul, wealthy families donated public "Çeşme" fountains to benefit the population. Engraved with poetic inscriptions, they provided free water—and were popular meeting places in the sweltering city.

Modern water features

In the 20th and 21st centuries, some fountains became show stars in their own right. The US company WET Design is behind the famous water displays in Las Vegas and Dubai, which are considered the largest in the world.

The Bellagio Fountains in Las Vegas have been dancing to music and light over a length of over 300 meters since 1998, with water shooting up to 138 meters high. This water feature has also become a movie star—for example, in the final scene of "Ocean's Eleven" (2001).

The Dubai Fountain on the artificial Burj Khalifa Lake has been in operation since 2000. At 275 meters wide and up to 150 meters high, the water moves to the rhythm of Arabic classics and K-pop hits.

Both use their own water or recirculating systems – an important issue in times of drought.

Luxury or lifesaver?

Critics still say wells are a waste of water, especially in regions with high levels of drought. In Milan, Italy, for example, some wells were shut down in 2022. Modern fountains usually operate with recycled water and sometimes even with solar pumps. And they can actually help in high temperatures: Fine water mist cools the surrounding air because evaporation absorbs heat. This can significantly improve the climate in cities – as studies and EU climate initiatives such as "European Climate-Adapt" and "Urban Green-Blue Grids" emphasize.

As heatwaves intensify, European cities are rediscovering their fountains. In Paris, the historic Wallace Fountains—green cast-iron fountain sculptures that spout filtered drinking water—were retrofitted with mist nozzles in 2021. Vienna features spray arches, interactive fountains, and play water zones. Berlin is expanding its network of touchless drinking fountains—hygienic measures included.

Antiquity is also reviving: In 2016, a 2,000-year-old Roman fountain was discovered at the Turkish archaeological site of Kibyra. It was reconstructed from more than 150 marble pieces—and has been bubbling again since 2023.

Of course, fountains alone can't cool cities—that would require fundamentally different urban planning . But their gentle rippling, the fresh breeze, and the chance to refresh yourself briefly make them timelessly relevant. In an increasingly hot future, fountains could experience a true renaissance.

Adapted from English: Silke Wünsch