FOUNTAIN, a spring or source of water rising out of the earth. Among the ancients, fountains generally were esteemed sacred; but some more especially so than others. The good effects resulting from cold bathing appears to have given rise to the belief that springs and rivers derived their salutary influence from some presiding deity. It was customary to throw little pieces of money into springs, lakes, or rivers, in order to render the presiding divinities propitious; as the touch of a naked body was supposed to pollute their hallowed waters. For the phenomena, theory, and origin of fountains or springs, see PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY; SPRINGS; ARTESIAN WELLS; and General Index.
Artificial fountains, of which there are various kinds, are all formed by pressure of some kind or other upon the water, viz., by the pressure or weight of a head of water, or by the pressure arising from the spring and elasticity of condensed air.