Friday, October 5, 2012

Schonner Brunnen


Heinrich found a beautiful spire in the courtyard of the main market in Nuremburg. The sculpture sits on top of what used to be the main well for this section of the city. People from the city would come every day to get water and see this wonderful tower.


















As he was admiring the art he noticed lots of people playing with something in the ironwork. One by one they would come up and spin something. When he looked closer he saw that there was a golden ring entwined in the grating. One of the people explained to him that the legend claimed that if someone spun the golden ring it would bring them good luck.



On the opposite side of the fountain, Heinrich noticed that there was a black ring that was also entwined in the metal work. Very few people came to spin this ring. One of the locals explained, "that spinning the golden ring brings good luck. Spinning the black ring brings lots of children". Apparently people wanted more good luck than they wanted babies.



Heinrich also saw that there were designs of left of the ring there was a squirrel and a crane. On the other side there was a hunter and a space where a piece was broken off. There used to be a stork in that part of the design. The legend is that the hunter shot the stork. Another commentary on parenthood.

 

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