| Much like statue, water fountains are also used to | | | | this fountain was the first prominent memorial |
| commemorate an individual's memorable existence | | | | honoring a woman. The beauty of this gentle yet |
| or notable achievement. While fountains are often | | | | powerful fountain symbolizes the strong and |
| constructed of some kind of statuary, obviously | | | | beautiful character of Lowell who was an |
| the difference lies in the addition of falling water. | | | | inspiration in charitable giving. Aside from mere |
| The sound of falling water brings on the feeling of | | | | mortal souls, water fountain memorials are also |
| peace and the sight of it reflection. Adding water | | | | used to celebrate the life of religious icons. These |
| to a solid form instantly changes a simple object | | | | are particularly popular in countries heavily |
| into a tangible and living thing. Unlike a statue (no | | | | influenced by religion such as Catholicism or |
| matter how elaborate the statue is in itself), | | | | Hinduism. Many families have table top water |
| water fountains trigger much sentiment and | | | | fountains in their homes to place at homemade |
| idealism. In "Song of the Spirits over the Water" | | | | altars running the fountains non-stop. Various table |
| by Johann Wolfgang Goethe it is written, "A | | | | top Buddha fountains are particularly popular as |
| mortal's soul seems like the water, from heaven | | | | they not only celebrate Buddha but are thought |
| coming to heaven rising again renewed then to | | | | to bring good luck to the families that have the |
| earth descending ever changing." Certainly, using a | | | | fountains running non-stop. Where Memorial |
| water fountain as a memorial goes a long way in | | | | Fountains are Located Most, hugely impressive |
| adding continuity. It is as though what has passed | | | | memorial fountains are located in public parks and |
| or died still lives and will continue living for eternity. | | | | squares. Obviously, communities and architects |
| Who do Fountains Represent? While fountains as | | | | who take the time to recognize a significant and |
| memorials have been used throughout Europe as | | | | historical figure would want as many people to |
| well as the United States, it is really a world wide | | | | view the memorial as possible. Memorial fountains |
| practice. Fountains as memorials have often been | | | | are special in a way that no other fountain is. |
| used for royalty, great heroes or notable | | | | While many fountains are used as décor or |
| politicians such as the Shaftesbury Memorial | | | | to impress the public, memorial fountains are truly |
| Fountain located in Piccadilly Circus, London. This | | | | erected for remembering not only the person |
| fountain designed by Alfred Gilbert in 1893 was | | | | they are built for, but also to reflect on our own |
| built as a monument for Anthony Ashley-Cooper, | | | | lives. Memorial fountains make us stop to think |
| earl of Shaftesbury. Ashley-Cooper was a | | | | about the character of which the fountain |
| politician who worked tirelessly in English social and | | | | represents but also to think about our own |
| educational reform. While it seems that many | | | | societal contributions and inspire us to such |
| fountains are used as a memorial for mostly | | | | greatness as those they commemorate. |
| males, one commemorative fountain | | | | Elizabeth Jean writes water fountain and related |
| representative of a woman is the Josephine Shaw | | | | articles for Garden-Fountains.com, the #1 |
| Lowell Memorial Fountain located in Bryant Park | | | | destination on the internet for wall fountains, |
| behind the New York Public Library. Built in 1912, | | | | garden fountains, and Distinctive Water Features. |