The Neptune Fountain (german: Neptunbrunnen) in
Berlin was built in 1891 and was designed by
Reinhold Begas
Reinhold Begas (15 July 1831 – 3 August 1911) was a German sculptor.
Biography
Begas was born in Berlin, son of the painter Carl Joseph Begas. He received his early education (1846–1851) studying under Christian Daniel Rauch and Ludwig ...
. The Roman god
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet from the Sun and the farthest known planet in the Solar System. It is the fourth-largest planet in the Solar System by diameter, the third-most-massive planet, and the densest giant planet. It is 17 times ...
is in the center. The four women around him represent the four main rivers of
Prussia at the time the fountain was constructed: the
Elbe (with the allegorical figure holding fruits and ears of corn),
Rhine (fishnet and
grapes),
Vistula (wooden blocks, symbols of forestry), and
Oder
The Oder ( , ; Czech, Lower Sorbian and ; ) is a river in Central Europe. It is Poland's second-longest river in total length and third-longest within its borders after the Vistula and Warta. The Oder rises in the Czech Republic and flows thr ...
(goats and animal skins). The Vistula is now entirely in Poland, while the Oder forms the border between Germany and Poland.
The fountain was removed from its original location at the
Schlossplatz in 1951, when the former
Berliner Stadtschloss
The Berlin Palace (german: Berliner Schloss), formally the Royal Palace (german: Königliches Schloss), on the Museum Island in the Mitte area of Berlin, was the main residence of the House of Hohenzollern from 1443 to 1918. Expanded by order of ...
(Berlin City Palace) there was demolished. Eventually, after being restored, the fountain was moved in 1969 to its present location between the St Mary's Church and the
Rotes Rathaus.
The diameter is 18 m (59 ft), the height is 10 m (33 ft).
There was another well-known
''Neptunbrunnen'' in
Breslau (nicknamed "Gabeljürge" or "Georgie Fork" by the locals), but it was destroyed during
World War II and the city was later transferred to
Poland.
Events
In 2013, a member of the Berlin Police Force shot an armed man before the fountain. The 31-year-old man was nude, holding a knife, and was believed to be mentally disturbed.
References
External links
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1891 sculptures
Allegorical sculptures in Germany
Buildings and structures in Berlin
Fountains in Germany
Outdoor sculptures in Berlin
Sculptures of men in Germany
Sculptures of Neptune
Sculptures of women in Germany
Statues in Germany
Personifications of rivers
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