Bassin d'Apollon facts for kids
The Apollo Fountain (also called the Bassin d'Apollon) is a beautiful fountain located in the famous Gardens of Versailles in France. It was designed by Charles Le Brun and features a large sculpture of the Greek god Apollo. The sculpture shows Apollo rising from the sea in his grand chariot, pulled by four powerful horses.
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The Apollo Fountain at Versailles
A Royal Design
The Apollo Fountain is a very important part of the amazing Palace of Versailles gardens. The main sculpture was created by Charles Le Brun, a famous artist. It shows the sun god Apollo starting his journey across the sky. This idea was very popular at the time. You can even see similar "dawn" themes on painted ceilings in other palaces across Europe.
From Pond to Palace Fountain
Before the fountain was built, there was a simple pond on this spot. It was dug in 1639 and was called "The Pond of the Swans." Later, King Louis XIV decided to make the pond much bigger in 1671. The pond was already facing east to west, which reminded people of the sun's path. King Louis XIV was often linked to Apollo, the sun god. Because of this, Charles Le Brun suggested dedicating this special place to Apollo.
Building the Masterpiece
The construction of the Apollo Fountain took several years. It was built between 1668 and 1671. Many skilled workers helped create this large and detailed fountain. It quickly became one of the most famous features in the magnificent Gardens of Versailles.
A Replica Across the World
The Apollo Fountain in Taiwan
In 2014, a full-size marble copy of the Apollo Fountain was placed at the Chimei Museum in Tainan, Taiwan. This replica looks exactly like the original fountain in France.
How the Replica Was Made
The Chimei Museum asked a French artist named Gills Perrault to create this copy in 2008. It was a huge project that took many years. First, it took three years to make a plaster mold of the original fountain. They used special laser tools to make sure every measurement was perfect. After that, it took another three years to carve the marble pieces. This carving work was done in Carrara, Italy, which is famous for its high-quality marble.
