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.[1]
History and description
Designed and commissioned by Ventura Rodríguez in 1780, the sculptural group—made of white marble from Montesclaros—[2] is a work by Francisco Gutiérrez (goddess) and Roberto Michel (the lions).[3]
Crowned by a mural crown, the goddess rides a chariot pulled by two lions, representing Atalanta and Hippomenes.[4]
It was moved to its current location and orientation in 1895.[3]
It has a maximum water capacity of 278 m3.[4]
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.[5] The goddess lost a hand in 1994, following a celebration of a victory of the Spanish national team.[4] The goddess lost again one of her hands on 21 September 2002.[6]
The Fountain of Cybele has a replica, the namesake Fuente de Cibeles, located in Mexico City and inaugurated in 1980.[1]
References
Citations
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b López de Azcona, Fort González & Mingarro Martín 2002, p. 67.
- ^ a b c 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.