Kindlifresserbrunnen Or Ogre Fountain, Bern, Switzerland

Kindlifresserbrunnen Or Ogre Fountain, Bern, SwitzerlandThe Ogre Fountain - 1544 to 1546

Located on the Kornhausplatz, in Bern, Switzerland's capital city is probably one of the strangest of all decorative water fountain examples, the monstrous OGRE FOUNTAIN, depicted eating a child. Bern's landscape fountain designs, particularly the Ogre Fountain continue to be one of the major tourist attractions for visitors from all corners of the globe. Legend has it that the Ogre Fountain or Kindlifresserbrunnen is actually steeped in anti-semantic beginnings, as it was painted completely yellow, the color used to vilify Jews during medieval times. It was a common misconception during these times that a Jewish religious ritual involved the murder of children. The Ogre Fountain is just another historic tourist attraction for most however. The fountain was built by Hans Gieng, a German, who created several if not most of the public fountains of Bern, erected between 1442 and 1546.

Why Use an Ogre for Fountains?

An ogre is a large and hideous humanoid monster, depicted in many fairy tales, including Hansel and Gretel as feeding on human beings. Classic works of literature over the ages have included texts about these monstrous forms. In art, ogres are often depicted with a big head, abundant hirsute hair and beard, a huge protruding belly, and a strong body. An ogre was an expression in medieval sculpture found in water fountains such as the Ogre large outdoor water fountain.