Create a Medieval Fountain Without Electricity

[GeekyGuy]

Hello,
During the middle ages they had fountains, but they didn't have electricity. I tried to recreate one on a smaller scale, but I couldn't figure out how to get the water to pump back up without electricity. Does anyone know how to do this?
Thanks.

 

[Danger]

I suspect, although I'm not sure, that these were based upon Artesian wells, wherein the water pressure from underground is high enough to provide its own pumping to an above-surface reservois.

 

[dav2008]

Another guess would be that they just fed water that was going downhill into the fountain.

 

[Danger]

Good point, Sir Squirrel. That's an easier way to do it, if such a supply is available. I hadn't thought of it because I was envisioning a flat environment.

 

[GeekyGuy]

I can't believe I didn't think about that. Thanks a lot!

 

[russ_watters]

Pumps have been around a looooong time. There are lots of ways that it can be done. A simple water-wheel will do it.

 

[Danger]

True, Russ, but the pictures that I've seen of these things generally show them as stand-alone fixtures in the middle of a town square. There's no evidence of external pumping apparatus. Granted, they're wood-cut printings, but those do tend to be historically accurate.

 

[H_man]

"Fountains throughout the Alhambra spurt water propelled by gravity and water pressure. Without the aid of electricity, the water flows continuously through a labyrinth of complex underground channels"

So, I guess you just need mountain streams close at hand. Or if you have no natural sources then I suppose a large supply of peasants.

 

[DaveC426913]

So, I guess you just need mountain streams close at hand. Or if you have no natural sources then I suppose a large supply of peasants.

No, you'd see the lumpiness of bodies in the water. Definitely just water going through those fountains.

 

[H_man]

Yeah... those peasants had a rought time.

 

[GeekyGuy]

Or if you have no natural sources then I suppose a large supply of peasants.

Unfortunately I don't have a large supply of peasants.

 

[Danger]

You can have some of mine. It's getting too expensive to feed them.

 

[Evo]

Hello,
During the middle ages they had fountains, but they didn't have electricity. I tried to recreate one on a smaller scale, but I couldn't figure out how to get the water to pump back up without electricity. Does anyone know how to do this?
Thanks.

Don't feel too bad GeekyGuy, I was 5 years old before I realized toilets weren't electric.

 

[kleinjahr]

A windmill can pump it back up hill, somewhat. Or, if you have a good flowing stream nearby you might use a water ram to raise the water first. There are losses of course. Entropy rules!

As far as I know the medieval fountains were/are flow through. Fed by springs, artesian wells, dams and aqueducts.