Herkulesbrunnen (Hercules' Fountain), Augsburg

The Hercules' Fountain is one of the city's three grand fountains, alongside the Augustus and Mercury Fountains. Created by Adriaen de Vries between 1596 and 1600, it showcases Renaissance artistry and prominently features the Greek demigod Hercules. This fountain became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2019, recognized under the “Augsburg Water Management System.”

The Hercules' Fountain is triangular in shape, with a three-meter-high bronze figure of Hercules at its center. Hercules, muscular and bearded, stands on a solid base, wielding a flaming club to defeat the seven-headed Hydra, symbolizing humanity's triumph over nature's chaos. The figure also represents the strength of Augsburg as a Free Imperial City.

Surrounding Hercules are three naiads-female figures representing water-each engaged in a different activity: wringing a cloth, wiping water from hair, and pouring water from a jug. These figures may also represent the Fates, tying the concept of life's thread to water. Below them are sea gods holding shells and fish, and mischievous putti strangling geese, from which water spurts in a playful display.

Three gilded bronze reliefs decorate the fountain, each with a distinct narrative. One depicts the founding of Augsburg, another shows the alliance between "Roma" and "Augusta Vindelicorum," and the third celebrates Augusta Vindelicorum's entry into the city on a triumphal chariot. The original bronze Hercules and other elements have been replaced by casts due to weathering concerns, with the originals now displayed in the Maximilian Museum.

The Hercules' Fountain is also historically linked to the Imperial Diet of Augsburg in 1547/48, where the depiction of Hercules and the Hydra reflects Emperor Charles V's efforts against the Protestant electors. The fountain's location in front of the Fugger houses nods to the family's financial support of the emperor, emphasizing the intertwined history of art, politics, and power in Augsburg.