Fountain Of Knowledge

AMONG Olomouc's claims to fame is a series of baroque fountains, begun in 1683.

The city kept them its fountains when the rest of Europe was removing theirs after piped water became commonplace.

This striking example in the main square is a late addition from 2002

The 2002 fountain is loosely based on the tale of Arion, a sixth-century BC poet and musician robbed by the crew of a ship taking him home after winning a competition in Sicily.

According to the story, Arion was allowed to play one last song on his kithara, a stringed instrument similar to a lyre, before being killed.

His playing supposedly attracted dolphins, and, when Arion leapt into the sea to escape his tormentors, one of the dolphins carried him to dry land.

The story goes that Arion was so excited at reaching safety that he omitted to return his rescuer to the water, and the dolphin died.

But the myth has a 'happy' ending - the ship's wicked crew are arrested by Periander, tyrant of Corinth, reunited with Arion, and crucified.