Towards the end of the 17th century, Prince-Bishop Lothar Franz von Schönborn decided to modernize the fountain and in 1697 commissioned the sculptor Casper Metzner to create today’s Neptune figure – a classic Baroque motif.
As a special feature, the stone sea god wears a trident whose fork-shaped tip stands out golden from the rest of the statue. This weapon prompted the Bamberg citizens to give the statue its nickname, which has survived to this day. Thus the Bamberg Neptune became the Gabelmann – or Gabelmoo, as the locals call it. Gabelmann literally means “fork man” (Gabel=fork, Mann=man).
18. April 2018
Towards the end of the 17th century, Prince-Bishop Lothar Franz von Schönborn decided to modernize the fountain and in 1697 commissioned the sculptor Casper Metzner to […]
18. April 2018
Place for citizenship This decision was made due to the early modern tradition of increasingly celebrating festivities in public. The size of family celebrations, such as […]
18. April 2018
Hygienic deficiencies The practice of meat banks, with meanwhile 49 stalls between Fleischgasse and Austraße, took out of hand. Not least because of the strong smell […]
18. April 2018
The lock survived the changes of industrialization, which means that it is still operated by hand today. Today, every skipper has to do this hard work himself […]
18. April 2018
In 1580 the Hochstift von Bamberg bought Geyerswörth Castle and the adjoining grounds. The acquired property contained outdated buildings which were demolished shortly afterwards. Builder Erasmus […]
18. April 2018
At the beginning of the 18th century it was decided that the chapter house was no longer suitable and the architect Balthasar Neumann was commissioned with […]
18. April 2018
While the work on the building, started in 1717, could be completed in 1720, the realization of the outdoor facilities lasted until the year 1722. Until […]
18. April 2018
Otto of Bamberg The Bishop of Bamberg, Bishop Otto, was a great supporter of the monastery. He was a missionary and, as bishop of Bamberg, was […]
