Strolling through Potsdam’s Lustgarten, one cannot miss the Neptunbassin. This fountain complex has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. Commissioned by Frederick II, the Neptunbassin was designed by Johann August Nahl. It was inspired by the Apollo Basin in the Palace Park of Versailles.
Originally constructed between 1746 and 1751, the Neptunbassin showcased Baroque artistry. The centerpiece was the sculpture group “Neptune’s Triumph”. It featured Neptune and Amphitrite on a chariot pulled by hippocampi. Tritons and Nereids surrounded them. Johann Peter Benkert and Johann Gottlieb Heymüller executed Nahl’s design. Their work was completed in January 1748.
The Neptunbrunnen depicted Neptune with his trident and his wife Amphitrite or Thetis. Two horses pulled the chariot. Six Tritons with fish tails and snail horns accompanied them. Nereids riding dolphins surrounded the sea god and goddess. Over time, the group underwent several alterations. These occurred in 1763, 1788–1792, 1846–1847, and 1934.
During the DDR era, between 1950 and 1960, the basin was filled. The figures damaged in World War II were destroyed. This destruction was ordered by the DDR. However, some Potsdam residents saved parts of the Neptunbrunnen before its destruction.
In 2001, for the Bundesgartenschau, the Lower Monument Protection Authority uncovered and restored the filled basin. Simultaneously, the Rotary Club Potsdam, initiated by Rudolph Freiherr von Ketteler, formed a society to restore the Neptune group. A Triton figure was found in a Kleinmachnow garden in 2003. In 2004, the head of the Triton leading the triumphal procession was discovered in a Bergholz-Rehbrücke garden.
In 2006, Potsdam artists Raiko Epperlein and Rainer Fürstenberg installed a steel, light, and water model. This model recreated the missing parts of the Neptune group in the basin. In 2011, Ketteler and Gundula Christl appealed to the public for help. They sought any remaining pieces of the ensemble. They assured that the salvaged pieces did not need to be relinquished. Their goal was to measure the rescued pieces. Even a measurement or cast would suffice, as the dimensions were unclear despite existing records.
Today, the Neptunbassin stands as a testament to Potsdam’s resilience. It is a reminder of its artistic heritage. The Neptunbassin embodies the spirit of Potsdam. It links its past and present. As you gaze at the Neptunbassin, reflect on its journey. It mirrors the city’s own story of loss and rediscovery.