the countryside'. The third group represents sacrifice for the public good. Theseus vanquisher of the Minotaur. The spirit triumphs over bestiality. Theseus delivers his country from the ransom which it had to pay to this monster. It is the sacrifice of himself for the good of humanity. Between these groups dolphins throw jets of water." The fountain is electrically illuminated and floodlit at night. Sicard quotes Pliny as one of the ancient Roman sources for the modern understanding of the qualities supposedly represented by the gods. Rather than merely using the visual examples of works such as those by Pheidias, the iconic sculptor of classical Athens, whose free standing and frieze statuary represent the acme of the classical depiction of the human form in larger-than life bronze or marble, Sicard used literary sources to explain the symbology behind the form. His choice of classical figures was in keeping with the European tradition of the sculpture and architecture of the precinct of Hyde Park. There is no indication in the writings of Sicard, or indeed, in the appraisal of his work, that there was any intention to link the figures in the sculptural groups with any religious or sexual themes. Conservation In 2013 the fountain underwent conservation work including "the careful cleaning of all the elements, the waxing of the bronze figures and the repointing of the granite base and surround." Popular culture The popularity of the Archibald Fountain has been attributed to "the interplay of water and sculpture, and also little elements that kids like". Over the years it has also been a chosen spot for photos, buskers, political rallies and just as a meeting place. The fountain is in an open space surrounded by formal flower gardens and has park benches provided nearby that make it a popular location for city workers at lunchtime. The Archibald Fountain is also known as one of the most homoerotic examples of public art in Australia. For the gay community, from around World War II up until the 1950's, the fountain was a 'beat'. Indeed it was a meeting place for men who wanted to pick up other men for casual and consensual lovemaking. The Australian author, Kylie Tennant also features the Archibald Fountain in her 1967 novel: Tell Morning This, where she acknowledges it as a homosexual rendezvous. See also Archibald Prize References External links The Archibald Fountain – City of Sydney