Latona Fountain facts for kids
The Fountain of Latona (in French, Bassin de Latone) is a famous fountain found in the amazing gardens of the Palace of Versailles in France. It sits right in the middle of a long line that connects the Palace, the Fountain of Apollo, the Green Carpet, and the Grand Canal. The main statue of the goddess Latona faces west, towards the Grand Canal.
This beautiful fountain was first designed by a famous landscape architect named André Le Nôtre in 1666. The statues on the fountain were made from lead by two brothers, Gaspard and Balthazar Marsy, between 1668 and 1670. Later, in 1686, another architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, changed the fountain. He turned the statue of Latona around. It used to face the palace, but he made it face the other way. He also made her pedestal (the base she stands on) taller.
What the Fountain Shows
The Latona Fountain looks a bit like a giant wedding cake with different levels. At the very top, you'll see a statue of the goddess Latona. She is with her two young children, Apollo and Diana.
On the levels below Latona, you can see many frogs. The lowest level of the fountain has statues of turtles and alligators. These animals are part of an old Greek myth.
The Myth of Latona
The fountain tells a story from ancient Greek mythology. Latona was the mother of the gods Apollo and Diana. She was trying to escape from the angry goddess Juno, who was very jealous. During her travels, Latona became very thirsty. She stopped at a pond in Lycia (an ancient region) and asked the local peasants for water.
However, the peasants were very rude. They mocked her and refused to let her drink from their pond. Because of their unkindness, Latona became very angry. She used her divine powers to turn the peasants into frogs! This is why the fountain shows Latona with frogs all around her, reminding everyone of the story.
Gallery
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A closer look at the fountain's details
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The fountain with its many levels
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Statues of Latona and her children
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The fountain surrounded by the beautiful gardens
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Panorama of the Latona Basin with the Grand Canal in the background
Images for kids
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The reconstruction of the Latona Fountain after restoration work, December 2014
