Fountain of Diana, Syracuse

The Diana Fountain is a 1907 monumental fountain by Giulio Moschetti, with the collaboration of his sculptor son Mario Moschetti, located in Archimede Square in Syracuse.

The construction of a fountain was desired by the City of Syracuse following the creation of Archimedes Square in 1878. The decision to commission the work from sculptor Giulio Moschetti came after the excellent result obtained with the creation of the Fountain of Proserpine in Catania. By resolution of February 1, 1906, the City Council commissioned the work after the presentation of the preparatory sketch. The work would be executed in ten months, between 1906 and 1907 for the sum of 19,000 lire.

The fountain faces south and highlights the figure of Diana with bow and dog, the attributes of the goddess of the hunt, protector of Ortigia in Greek times. At her feet is Arethusa stretching as she is being transformed into a fountain. To the side is Alphaeus astonished at what is happening to his beloved. In second order, inside the basin we find four Tritons riding two sea horses and two Pistrici soaring over the waves. The fine basin has some masks and coats of arms tracing a classical style of forms.

The fountain was built of reinforced concrete, both because of lower execution cost but also to follow the wide versatility that this construction technique allowed.

In 1996, SOGEAS, the former Syracuse water company, financed the restoration of the fountain.