Fish Fountain - Munich, Germany
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Metro2
N 48° 08.231 E 011° 34.569
32U E 691652 N 5334757
This fountain in Marienplatz is a 1954 replica of a fountain that has been here since the 1300's until it was destroyed in 1944.
Waymark Code: WMK1HC
Location: Bayern, Germany
Date Posted: 01/29/2014
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Outspoken1
Views: 66

Called the Fish fountain, the site has beautiful reliefs on its sides and sculptures of ragged boys with water-spouting pails and fish in the center. Atop the central plinth is a large pufferfish sculpture. Apparently the original artist is unknown but was reconstructed by someone named "Henselman".
A website which existed when WMJWWT (visit link) was published (but no longer seems to be working) informed us the strange initiation rite which once took place here:

"Fishmongers kept their fish fresh in the fountain when this was the piscatorial part of the old market. It was the site of bizarre initiation ceremony called the Metzgersprung (Butcher’s Leap) which took place regularly until 1900 and continues in an altered form to this day.

To round off their schooling, young apprentice butchers were sheathed in nothing but a sheepskin and a calf’s penis hanging from their necks, spun around three times and thrown into the fountain.

Only after suffering through this potentially neurosis-inducing ceremony were they allowed to work as fully fledged butchers. It’s now the city’s most-loved meeting point."
Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Fish Fountain

Figure Type: Combination of two figure types

Artist Name or use 'Unknown' if not known: Henselman

Date created or placed or use 'Unknown' if not known: 1954

Materials used: bronze

Location: Marienplatz, Munich

Visit Instructions:
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