Fountain of Cybele

{{short description|Monumental fountain in Madrid}}

{{Redirect|Fuente de Cibeles|the replica in Mexico City|Fuente de Cibeles (Mexico City)}}

{{Infobox artwork

| title = Fountain of Cybele

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| other_language_1 = Spanish

| other_title_1 = Fuente de Cibeles

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| image = Fuente de Cibeles - Dec 2024.jpg

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| caption = The fountain in 2024

| artist = Francisco Gutiérrez (sculptor)
{{ill|Roberto Michel|es}} (sculptor)
Ventura Rodríguez (designer)

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| medium = White marble

| movement = Neoclassicism

| subject = Cybele

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| city = Plaza de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain

| coordinates = {{coord|40.419345|N|3.693081|W|type:landmark_region:ES|display=inline,title}}

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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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.es/espana/madrid/abci-secretos-cibeles-201208170000_noticia.html|website=ABC|title=Los cinco secretos que esconde la fuente de la Cibeles|first=Marta R.|last=Domingo|date=20 August 2012}}

History and description

Designed and commissioned by Ventura Rodríguez in 1780, the sculptural group—made of white marble from Montesclaros—{{Sfn|López de Azcona|Fort González|Mingarro Martín|2002|p=68}} is a work by Francisco Gutiérrez (goddess) and {{ill|Roberto Michel|es}} (the lions).{{Sfn|López de Azcona|Fort González|Mingarro Martín|2002|p=67}}

Crowned by a mural crown, the goddess rides a chariot pulled by two lions, representing Atalanta and Hippomenes.{{Sfn|Fraguas|2014}}

It was moved to its current location and orientation in 1895.{{Sfn|López de Azcona|Fort González|Mingarro Martín|2002|p=67}}

It has a maximum water capacity of 278 m3.{{Sfn|Fraguas|2014}}

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.{{Sfn|Ortiz García|2006|pp=199–200}} The goddess lost a hand in 1994, following a celebration of a victory of the Spanish national team.{{sfn|Fraguas|2014}} The goddess lost again one of her hands on 21 September 2002.{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2004/04/26/madrid/1082992928.html|website=El Mundo|title=Los acusados de romper una mano a la Cibeles reconocen los hechos pero dicen que fue un accidente|date=27 April 2004}}

The Fountain of Cybele has a replica, the namesake Fuente de Cibeles, located in Mexico City and inaugurated in 1980.

References

=Citations=

{{reflist|2}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{Cite journal|url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2014/05/24/madrid/1400950759_461258.html|journal=El País|title=Las deidades del balompié|date=24 May 2014|first=Rafael|last=Fraguas}}
  • {{Cite journal|title=La conservación de los materiales pétreos en la Fuente de Cibeles, Madrid (España)|first1=María Concepción|last1=López de Azcona|first2=Rafael|last2=Fort González|first3=Francisco|last3=Mingarro Martín|journal=Materiales de Construcción|issn=0465-2746|issue=265|year=2002|pages=65–76|publisher=Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas|location=Madrid|url=http://materconstrucc.revistas.csic.es/index.php/materconstrucc/article/view/345/393|volume=52|doi=10.3989/mc.2002.v52.i265.345 |doi-access=free}}
  • {{Cite journal|volume=61|issue=2|year=2006|last=Ortiz García|journal=Disparidades. Revista de Antropología|title=La Diosa Blanca y el Real Madrid. Celebraciones deportivas y espacio urbano|doi=10.3989/rdtp.2006.v61.i2.21|first=Carmen|publisher=Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas|location=Madrid|issn=0034-7981|url=http://dra.revistas.csic.es/index.php/dra/article/view/21/21|pages=191–208|doi-access=free|hdl=10261/7766|hdl-access=free}}

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Category:Sculptures of classical mythology

Category:Fountains in Madrid

Category:1780 sculptures

Category:Outdoor sculptures in Madrid

Category:Sculptures of lions

Category:Neoclassical sculptures

Category:Buildings and structures in Jerónimos neighborhood, Madrid

Category:Sculptures of goddesses