| Fountain of Cybele | |
|---|---|
| Spanish: Fuente de Cibeles | |
 | |
| Artist | Francisco Gutiérrez (sculptor) Roberto Michel [es] (sculptor) Ventura Rodríguez (designer) |
| Medium | White marble |
| Movement | Neoclassicism |
| Subject | Cybele |
| Location | Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain |
| Coordinates | 40°25′10″N 3°41′35″W / 40.419345°N 3.693081°W / 40.419345; -3.693081 |
The Fountain of Cybele (Spanish: Fuente de Cibeles, or simply, La Cibeles) is a neoclassical fountain in Madrid, Spain. It lies on the centre of the Plaza de Cibeles. The sculptural group in its centre represents Cybele, a Phrygian earth and fertility deity. It has become one of the icons of the city.
History and description
Designed and commissioned by Ventura Rodríguez in 1780, the sculptural group—made of white marble from Montesclaros— is a work by Francisco Gutiérrez (goddess) and Roberto Michel [es] (the lions).
Crowned by a mural crown, the goddess rides a chariot pulled by two lions, representing Atalanta and Hippomenes.
It was moved to its current location and orientation in 1895.
It has a maximum water capacity of 278 m.
The fountain is the site where Real Madrid's supporters and players gather to celebrate the team's trophies as well as partakers of the successes of the Spain national football team. The goddess lost a hand in 1994, following a celebration of a victory of the Spanish national team. The goddess lost again one of her hands on 21 September 2002.
The Fountain of Cybele has a replica, the namesake Fuente de Cibeles, located in Mexico City and inaugurated in 1980.
References
Citations
- ^ Domingo, Marta R. (20 August 2012). "Los cinco secretos que esconde la fuente de la Cibeles". ABC.
- López de Azcona, Fort González & Mingarro Martín 2002, p. 68.
- ^ López de Azcona, Fort González & Mingarro Martín 2002, p. 67.
- ^ Fraguas 2014.
- Ortiz García 2006, pp. 199–200.
- "Los acusados de romper una mano a la Cibeles reconocen los hechos pero dicen que fue un accidente". El Mundo. 27 April 2004.
Bibliography
- Fraguas, Rafael (24 May 2014). "Las deidades del balompié". El País.
- López de Azcona, María Concepción; Fort González, Rafael; Mingarro Martín, Francisco (2002). "La conservación de los materiales pétreos en la Fuente de Cibeles, Madrid (España)". Materiales de Construcción. 52 (265). Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas: 65–76. doi:10.3989/mc.2002.v52.i265.345. ISSN 0465-2746.
- Ortiz García, Carmen (2006). "La Diosa Blanca y el Real Madrid. Celebraciones deportivas y espacio urbano". Disparidades. Revista de Antropología. 61 (2). Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas: 191–208. doi:10.3989/rdtp.2006.v61.i2.21. ISSN 0034-7981.