Найвідоміший фонтан словацької столиці The most famous fountain in the Slovak capital

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In the past century, fountains, erected in various cities of Europe, performed not so much a decorative as a practical function: they served as reservoirs of drinking water. The neo-baroque fountain of Ganymede was the first fountain in Bratislava to be installed for beauty. It is located on Hvezdoslava Square in front of the National Theater and is considered the most famous fountain in the Slovak capital. It was built in 1888 by the Austrian sculptor Victor Tilgner, who is the author of the monument to Mozart in Vienna. This fountain was donated to the city by the First Savings Bank of Bratislava. The founders of the bank themselves negotiated with the sculptor and paid for his work.

The fountain is crowned by a sculptural composition illustrating the myth of Ganymede. Zeus, turning into an eagle, kidnapped the most beautiful boy on Earth named Ganymede and took him to Olympus. There the kidnapped young man offered bowls of wine at the feasts of the gods.
The moment of abduction was depicted by Victor Tilgner in his sculpture. The fountains of Villa d'Este in Tivoli (Italy) inspired him to realize this plot in bronze. The pedestal with Ganymede is surrounded by a bowl where water flows. Under it sit four boys, holding fish in the Danube. You can also see sea turtles, crabs and frogs on the bowl. They look quite harmonious and do not overload the composition. Children love to walk around the fountain and look at these little sculptures. Bronze sculptures of Ganymede, angels with fish and sea animals were made by the Beshorner workshop, located in Budapest.