The bridge monkey is a popular photo opportunity for visitors to Heidelberg.
Already in the 15th century, a bridge monkey was mentioned at the Old Bridge. The present bronze sculpture by Gernot Rumpf was erected in 1979.
The monkey is a symbol of ugliness, shamelessness, lechery, and vanity:
His naked rear end symbolizes ugliness, but also lechery. The mirror he holds in his left front paw and the ring he wears on his left back paw symbolize vanity. With the right front paw, he extends his index finger and little finger towards us, which means "averting the evil eye".
The human being looks mockingly at the monkey. The latter returns the mockery with a sneer and reduces the observer to his true size.
If the visitor strokes the mirror, it brings prosperity. Whoever strokes over the outstretched fingers of the right hand come back to Heidelberg. Whoever strokes over the mice (the artist's trademark) will have rich child blessings.
The monkey is a symbol of ugliness, shamelessness, lechery, and vanity:
His naked rear end symbolizes ugliness, but also lechery. The mirror he holds in his left front paw and the ring he wears on his left back paw symbolize vanity. With the right front paw, he extends his index finger and little finger towards us, which means "averting the evil eye".
The human being looks mockingly at the monkey. The latter returns the mockery with a sneer and reduces the observer to his true size.
If the visitor strokes the mirror, it brings prosperity. Whoever strokes over the outstretched fingers of the right hand come back to Heidelberg. Whoever strokes over the mice (the artist's trademark) will have rich child blessings.
