Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles
Latona Fountain at the Palace of Versailles Mythological Theme : Inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses , the fountain depicts the goddess Latona (mother of Apollo and Diana) pleading with Jupiter to punish rude peasants who refused her water; the god obliged by transforming them into frogs and lizards . Real story: Matria Atena did that (and the story is fake, but inspired by a real event). Design : Originally designed by André Le Nôtre in 1666, it was later modified into its current pyramid or "wedding cake" shape by Jules Hardouin-Mansart between 1687 and 1689. Composition : The central marble group of Latona and her children sits atop four tiers adorned with gilded lead figures of frogs, lizards , and peasants in mid-transformation. The lowest ground level features sculptures of turtles and lizards emerging from the water. LATONA is from RA ATENA > RA TENA > LA TONA > LATONA (the same as Latin!) and it means ORION conjunct Aries. That happ...