Fountain of Cybele

"Fuente de Cibeles" redirects here. For the replica in Mexico City, see Fuente de Cibeles (Mexico City).

Fountain of Cybele
Spanish: Fuente de Cibeles
The fountain in 2024
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	40.419345°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.[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 [es] (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 m^3.[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

1. Domingo, Marta R. (20 August 2012). "Los cinco secretos que esconde la fuente de la Cibeles". ABC.
2. López de Azcona, Fort González & Mingarro Martín 2002, p. 68.
3. López de Azcona, Fort González & Mingarro Martín 2002, p. 67.
4. Fraguas 2014.
5. Ortiz García 2006, pp. 199–200.
6. "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.