Fantastic Fountains and Where to Find Them: A Re-examination of the Textual and Material Evidence on Liquid Architecture from the Medieval Islamicate World

Abstract Tracking the circulation and exchange of ideas, models, technology in Mediterranean during Middle Ages allows for easier comparison between cultural systems, although different, were not kept sealed boxes. This is undoubtedly case with zoomorphic fountains Byzantium Islamicate Mediterranean. Much has been written on history from varying perspectives, resulting literature that comprehensive diverse. However, this contribution uniquely employs sources never used before, including poetry, tales The Arabian Nights , other fantastic literature, to understand better their fountainheads, present a fresh perspective subject.