Title: The history of fountains and relevant structures in Crete, Hellas

Authors: Andreas N. Angelakis

Addresses: National Foundation for Agricultural Research (NAGREF), Institute of Iraklion, 71307 Iraklion, Greece; Hellenic Union of Municipal Enterprises for Water Supply and Sewage, 41222 Larissa, Hellas, Greece

Abstract: Water fountains refer to a structural feature present, not only in every settlement, but also in every historical and mythological aspect of mankind. From water fountains, water, the essential element for life, was distributed to the people, up to the times when the pipe network systems provided fresh tap water inside the. In several countries, fountains and shrines are used to feel the freshness of their running water, to prepare for their pray, or to make a wish for luck. The technical elements of fountains provided the possibility for water supply and for the history, the myths and the songs to exist. The engineering behind and underneath the shrines and fountains provided water for the people of a city under siege and/or before a holy procedure and was giving the chance for social relationships of various groups of people. This paper is about the engineering and the structures behind myths, songs and wishes in Crete, Hellas through its long history.

Keywords: Byzantine period; Cretan state; distribution systems; Hellenes; Hellenistic period; Minoan era; Roman period; Ottoman period; present times; shrines; Venetian period; water supply systems; Crete; water fountains; history; myths; songs; water engineering; social relationships.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGENVI.2015.071865

International Journal of Global Environmental Issues, 2015 Vol.14 No.3/4, pp.200 - 215

Received: 25 Jun 2014
Accepted: 03 Feb 2015
Published online: 21 Sep 2015 *

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