Amphitrite Fountain

Amphitrite Fountain

The fountain sometime between 1902 and 1920.
53°25′30″N 14°33′00″E
Location	Victory Square, Szczecin, Poland
Designer	Reinhold Felderhoff
Type	Fountain sculpture
Opening date	1902
Dedicated to	Amphitrite
Dismantled date	12 Ocotber 1932

The Amphitrite Fountain (German: Amphitrite-Brunnen; Polish: Fontanna Amfitryty), also known as the Amphitrite Monument (Polish: Pomnik Amfitryty), and the Felderhoff Fountain (German: Felderhoff-Brunnen; Polish: Fontanna Felderhoffa), was a Baroque Revival fountain sculpture in the city of Szczecin, Poland (then German Empire), placed at the intersection of current Independence Avenue, Wyszyńskiego Street, and the Victory Square, in front of the Harbour Gate. Designed by Reinhold Felderhoff, it depicted Amphitrite, goddess of the sea in the Greek mythology, as a nude female figure, standing on a chariot drawn by two galloping horses. It was unveiled in 1902, and removed in 1932. It is currently considered lost art.

History

The fountain sculpture was carved by Reinhold Felderhoff, and unvailed in 1902, in front of the former bricked-up entrance to the Harbour Gate, at the intersection of current Independence Avenue, Wyszyńskiego Street, and the Victory Square.

The sculpture, depicting a naked female figure, has caused controversy and protests among some religious conservative women.

In 1929, the location of the fountain and its basin was deemed to interfere with the road traffic, and it was removed on 12 Ocotber 1932. The sculpture was donated to the Pomeranian State Museum (now Szczecin National Museum), with its further whereabouts remaining unknown.

Characteristics

The focal point of the fountain was the sculpture of Amphitrite, goddess of the sea in the Greek mythology, depicted as a nude female figure, holding a trident. She stood on a chariot, drawn by two galloping horses, faced towards the Oder river. The sculpture was most likely made from sandstone, and was inspired on the Apollo Bassin in the Palace of Versailles in France. The water flew from the chariot, and cascaded into a large shallow basin.