Father Rhine

Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 25 May 2008 in Art & Design.

"The Romans viewed the Rhine as the outermost border of civilization and reason, beyond which were mythical creatures and the wild Germanic tribesmen, not far themselves from being beasts of the wilderness they inhabited." (Source: Wikipedia) Connoisseurs are aware of this; and it is still true. A few miles east of this natural barrier German tribes still are up to mischief, their cities are dreary, and dragons are still living there. Well, apart from Bavaria perhaps, but I'm still evaluating my research data.

Why do I talk about the Rhine? Isn't this the old Greek god Poseidon, or his Roman analogon Neptune? Germans and Celts both worshipped the river and later it was identified with the Greek or Roman god of water. The photo shows the Wilhelmine version of Rhenus Pater (Father Rhine), the deified river, accompanied by sirens (you might already know the Loreley myth). The stuff lying before them is the treasure that Hagen von Tronje had stolen from Krimhild (more about this in the Nibelungenlied, a bloody poem about manhood, love, revenge and faithfulness). As you can see, this is a lot of history and myth. I'm crossing the river at least twice daily on my way to work and in return.

Comments (11)

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Hong Kong

A very dramatic image, MS. I also like your info.

25 May 2008 6:27am

@Michael Skorulski: No drama here :-) It's just my nice old home river ;-)

Faramarz from Tehran, Iran

ncie... :)

25 May 2008 8:41am

@Faramarz: Thank you, Faramarz!

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

I'm glad you took such a closeup of this dramatic statue! Seen some such beautiful creations in the park at Pushkino, near St. Petersbourg. The palace there is a wonder of architecture, but the park.....the park is full of statues with deep roots in the Greek/Roman mythology.For no particular reason...that green always appeals to me!

25 May 2008 10:52am

@Japanalia: Statues like this one became a rarity here, nobody really likes them. But I find it very pleasing to cross a river that once was a god :-)

Observing from Chester, United Kingdom

Excellent photograph, is this Nepune....? very interesting.

25 May 2008 2:56pm

@Observing: Now, it's an allegoric statue of Rhenus, the deified river Rhine. Because I have written that in my post of today and you didn't read it, tell me now all tributary rivers of the Rhine. Quick!

;-)

Observing from Chester, United Kingdom

:) The moesel....? is that a wine... sorry.

25 May 2008 4:35pm

@Observing: :-D

JoeB from Brampton, Canada

The colour of blue and green are very striking, and the angle makes him more of a god, history does become myth. When you cross the river is it by car or... never mind.

25 May 2008 5:22pm

@JoeB: I'm happy to say that I'm able to get to work by foot, it's just a few hundred metres away, the Rhine flowing in between :-)