Kindlifresserbrunnen

The Kindlifresserbrunnen is since 1997 on the Kornhausplatz in Bern and belongs to the old town of Bern fountain from the 16th century.

It was built in 1545/46 by Hans Gieng in place of a wooden fountain from the 15th century. Originally called him Square Fountain; the present name is first occupied in 1666.

The fountain sculpture is a sitting ogre who just devouring a naked child. There is a bag in which to be still more children at his side. Then the giant wearing a pointy hat, reminiscent of a Jewish hat, there was speculation about whether he be a Jew and should remind us of an alleged ritual murder ( Rudolf von Bern ). According to other theories, the Brunnenfigur the Greek god Kronos dar. Probably but it is merely a carnival character with whom you intimidated disobedient children ( Schreck figure).

To the foot of the fountain column runs a frieze illustrating a campaign of armed bears, which include a piper and a drummer belong. The frieze was designed by Hans Rudolf Manuel, brother of Niklaus Manuel.

The Kindlifresserbrunnen plays an important role in the novel L'ogre ( German: Child Eater, ISBN 3-85787-680-8 ) by Jacques Chessex.