Neptune Fountain

Neptune Fountain. One of the most important symbols of Gdańsk. It has been standing since 1633 in the Long Market, in front of Artus Court and has 'posed' for millions of photos. The initiator of the fountain was the mayor of Gdańsk, Bartłomiej Schachmann. The figure of Neptune relates to the union of the city with the sea, and is presented in a way that you can see it from all sides. The appearance of the sculpture indicates that the artist knew ancient patterns, suggesting that the seventeenth-century Neptune fountain is one of few examples of ancient sculpture remaining in the Gdańsk area. It was modelled by Peter Husen and Johann Rogge, according to the project by Gerdta Benningka, and was cast in 1615 in Augsburg. The bowl and stem on which the statue stands are the work of the sculptor Abraham van den Blocke. The whole fountain is surrounded by a magnificent grille, dating from 1634 Between 1757-1761 Johann Karl Stender transformed the spirit of the Rococo bowl and pedestal fountains, adding a whole array of sea creatures. According to one Gdańsk legend, it was Neptune who contributed to making the famous Gdańsk Goldwasser liqueur. Outraged that coins were being thrown into the fountain, the trident struck the water and smashed it into tiny flakes of gold, which now adorn the magnificent splendour of his herbal liqueur. Delicious!