The Bassin du Dragon in the Château de Versailles !!

Posted in Europe, France, Versailles

I bring you back to something very familiar. I have written many posts in my blog about my previous glorious town of Versailles; the choices are a lot more than the palace, indeed , I need to say the Palace/museum of Versailles is worth a kingdom and many things to see that require more than two days to see it all . My nostalgic Versailles is the préfecture capital city of the department 78 Yvelines, in the Île de France region of my belle France. I like to come back to tell you a bit more on an important element of the Domaine of Versailles, the Bassin du Dragon basin. Hope you enjoy the post as I. 

You come to admire the Bassin du Dragon, sculptured in 1667, with serpents being attacked by archers, throw its blood but better water by its mouth. They were put here in 1668 welcoming the triumphant Louis XIV from the war and the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The bassin du Dragon is at the intersection between the avenue de Trianon and the allée d’Eau, and in the alignment of the Neptune basin which it precedes. At the start of the Apollinian course, this basin stages the dragon Python, launched by Juno in pursuit of Latone, pregnant of Apollo and Artemis, Here, the Marsy brothers chose to represent the dying dragon, pierced with arrows of Apollo, and spitting his blood represented by the huge jet of water emerging from his mouth. It has a horse mane, pointed wings and a fish tail. Around it are four children armed with arcs and arrows, who symbolize Apollo, mounted on swans and escorted by four dolphins. The gaze is led to the castle by the allée d’Eau to the pyramid basin, symbol of knowledge, which represents the oracle of Delphi. The Bassin du Dragon is located at the intersection of Avenue de Trianon and Allée d’Eau, in the alignment of the Allée d’Eau and the Bassin de Neptune which it precedes. A wonderful walk indeed of many family memories !

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At the start of the Apollonian journey, this basin depicts the dragon Python, launched by Juno in pursuit of Latona, pregnant with Apollo and Artemis. The dragon was to prevent Latona from giving birth, in order to punish her for her union with Jupiter. He terrorized the population of Delphi by watching over his oracle, initially dedicated to Themis, goddess of Justice. The young Apollo pierced him with his arrows and made himself master of the oracle named Pythia. In order to appease the anger of Gaia, mother of Python, he created the Pythian Games. represent the dying dragon, pierced by the arrows of Apollo, and spitting its blood represented by the immense jet of water coming out of its mouth. He has a horse mane, pointed wings and a fish tail. Around him are four children armed with bows and arrows, which symbolize Apollo, mounted on swans and escorted by four dolphins.  The gaze is led towards the castle by the Allée d’Eau or water alley to the basin of the Pyramid, symbol of knowledge, which represents the oracle of Delphi.

Around this dragon there are four little Cupids on swans, each making a great jet of water & swimming towards the edge as if to save themselves: Two of these Cupids who are opposite the dragon, hide their faces with the hand so as not to see it, on their face one sees all the marks of fear perfectly expressed. The other two, bolder because the monster is not turned on their side, attack it with their weapons. Between these cupids are bronze dolphins whose open mouths push big boils of water into the air.

The Château de Versailles on the bassin du Dragon :https://www.chateauversailles.fr/decouvrir/domaine/les-jardins/les-bassins-les-fontaines#le-bassin-du-dragon

The official Château de Versailles on the Grandes Eaux Musicales or music gardens show https://en.chateauversailles-spectacles.fr/programmation/the-musical-gardens-show_e2758

The magazine of the Château de Versailles :http://www.lescarnetsdeversailles.fr/category/patrimoine/

There you go folks, it is a wonderful basin, and we have many souvenirs of walking by it. The Bassin du Dragon basin is one of the hightlights of the gardens at the Domaine de Versailles. Again, hope you enjoy it as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

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