The most popular theory is that it’s a character from an urban legend designed to scare children into good behavior. There is no consensus on the intended meaning of this confronting sculpture.
In his arms, he grips several similarly small toddlers, which he presumably intends to eat, too. There, atop a fountain, is a ghoulish man with his mouth wide open, biting down on the head of a tiny, naked child. Looming above Kornhausplatz, one of the busiest public squares in Bern, is a truly disturbing sight. You know, just your average children being devoured, bears wearing golden helmets, musicians in motion, soldiers wielding crossbows, and heroines saving the people.ĭating back to the 1500s, these Renaissance-era structures range from horrifying, inspiring, or comical and have become central attractions of Bern, which is known as the “City of Fountains.” Here’s the story of 10 of Bern’s most interesting fountains. Bern, Switzerland is lined by dozens of public fountains that, via their elaborate and sometimes bizarre designs, reveal aspects of this city’s heritage.
