Athens Fountain (Stuttgart)
The Athenebrunnen (also called Pallas-Athene-Brunnen) is a fountain named after the goddess Athene on Jean-Amery-Weg on Karlshöhe in Stuttgart-West . It was created in 1911 by the sculptor Karl Donndorf (1870–1941). The culturally and historically significant fountain has been fully functional again since 2011.
history
The fountain used to belong to the park of the villa of the industrialist Gustav Siegle (1840–1905) built in 1870 . His widow Julie had the fountain built in 1911 by the sculptor Karl Donndorf on the northern slope of Karlshöhe in the neoclassical style . It was located in the park above the Villa Siegle, which was at the foot of the Karlshöhe, and below the family's summer house "Sonnenschlösschen", which was at the height.
During the Second World War , the entire park was badly affected. The villa was destroyed in 1944 and the ruins demolished in 1953. The summer house was also demolished in 1961 and replaced by a viewing terrace with a bar that still exists today. The Athens fountain also fell into disrepair. In 1989 the Stuttgart Beautification Association , which owns a large part of Karlshöhe, had the fountain basins and figures restored. “For the 150th anniversary in 2011, the Beautification Association in Stuttgart restored the figures Athene, Pandora, Prometheus and the Zeus head and restored the fountain system”. The fountain has been fully functional again since then.
Appearance
In the center of the neoclassical fountain system, the antique statue of the goddess Athena can be seen at the moment of her birth. According to Greek mythology, she emerged from the head of her father Zeus in full armor and armor . The stone Athene figure wears a metal shield and a spear in addition to a breastplate and helmet . Only the head of Zeus is depicted, it serves as a pedestal for the statue .
Below the statue of Athena and the head of Zeus, two well basins lie like a staircase. Next to the lower basin, the stone figure of Prometheus can be seen on the right hand of Athena . To her left you can see the figure of Pandora with the famous box on her lap.
symbolism
The figure of Athena makes clear references to how the Siegle family liked to see themselves. In addition to her role as namesake and patron goddess of Athens , Athena is considered to be the goddess of wisdom and patron of the arts and sciences . Gustav and Julie Siegle were also generous supporters of cultural, social and scientific purposes. Not only did the first hospital in Feuerbach go back to them from 1893, but also the Gustav-Siegle-Haus in Stuttgart from 1912, which was used for popular education.
At the same time, however, the well system also indicates the dual value of all human striving for knowledge. According to Greek mythology, Prometheus brought fire to people (among other good things ) - and was cruelly punished for this by Zeus. Pandora, on the other hand, brought mankind every imaginable evil - and next to it only the hope of recovery.
Three years later, in 1914, the sculptor Karl Donndorf took up the ambivalence of good and bad again in another work - namely in the allegories of joy and sorrow at the fountain of fate in Stuttgart.
The figure of Prometheus
The figure of Pandora
The shield of Athena
literature
- Pallas Athene fountain. In: Bernd Langner and Wolfgang Kress: Views in all directions. 150 years of the Schönerungsverein Stuttgart e. V. 1861-2011. With thoughts on the future work of Erhard Bruckmann. Stuttgart: Schönerungsverein Stuttgart, 2011, page 171.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ [1] Report on the inauguration in the Schwäbisches Tagblatt .
- ↑ Inscription on the sign by the fountain.
- ↑ [2] Pictures on the website of the Schönerungsverein Stuttgart .
- ^ [3] Stuttgart Brünnele Foundation
Coordinates: 48 ° 46 ′ 6 ″ N , 9 ° 9 ′ 54 ″ E