The monumental fountain in front of the city hall depicts the legendary hero Brabo after his defeat of the giant Antigoon. The fountain was sculpted at the end of the nineteenth century by local artist Jef Lambeaux.
A legend, probably created in the Middle Ages, tells the story of the Roman hero Brabo and how he slayed the giant Antigoon.
The legend of Brabo
More than two thousand years ago, when Antwerp was just a small settlement in the Roman Empire, Druon Antigoon – a giant from Russian descent – built a large castle along the river Scheldt. He exacted a toll from every passing ship that sailed down the river. The giant cut off the hands of sailors who were unable or unwilling to hand over half of their cargo, and threw their hands in the river.
One day, the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo sailed along the giant’s castle. He refused to pay the toll and challenged Antigoon to a duel. Brabo managed to defeat the giant, cut off his head and hand and threw the hand in the river.
According to popular etymology, the city’s name – Antwerpen – is derived from the act of Brabo throwing the hand (‘handwerpen’ in Flemish). The hand symbolizes the free waterway, which was vital for the city’s survival. The hand also became a symbol of Antwerp and appeared on city seals as early as in the thirteenth century. Even today it is prominently visible in the city: the hand is displayed on the city’s coat of arms and a local delicacy, known as ‘handje’ is shaped like a hand.
In the nineteenth century, when romanticism generated new interest in the city’s history, the idea was launched to create a monumental fountain depicting the heroic deed of Silvius Brabo. The legend of Brabo had become even more symbolic than ever before, since the Dutch had closed the river Scheldt in 1585, exacting a toll from any passing boat, which resulted in the city’s downfall from one of the world’s largest and most powerful cities to a middle-sized city. In 1863 the Dutch finally stopped demanding toll from passing ships and the city started to grow again.
In 1883 local sculptor Jef Lambeaux presented the city council with a design for a new fountain which celebrated the freeing of the river. Four years later, in 1887, the fountain was inaugurated amid great public interest. It was installed at the center of the Grote Markt, right in front of the City Hall.
The fountain depicts Brabo throwing the giant’s hand in the river. Brabo stands on a tall pedestal decorated with water spouting sea animals – a fish, a sea lion, a turtle and a dragon like monster. Mermaids support a castle, symbolizing the city. Giant Antigoon’s head dangles just below Brabo’s feet.
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