Fuente de Cibeles, literally meaning 'the source of Cybele,' is a landmark monument of the Spanish capital. It was originally placed in 1782 outside of the Museo del Prado, facing the fountain of Neptune. The imposing monument features the figure of Cybele, the goddess of nature, on a chariot pulled by lions. In her hands, she holds a scepter and a key. The wild lions pulling the tall-rising chariot symbolically emphasise her tremendous power of nature.

Throughout the early decades of its existence, the fountain served a purely utilitarian purpose – it provided local people with water. Legend has it that the its origins reach back to when Madrid was a Muslim settlement. In the past, it was also believed to have healing properties. At the end of the 19th Century, the fountain was moved to the centre of the square and adorned with several additional elements, such as amphoras and decorative pitchers, commemorating the historical importance of the source of Cybele.