Both gods occupy prominent positions within the Greek mythological hierarchy and compete in the sporting field, since the fans of Atlético de Madrid celebrate their victories in the plaza of the sea god, while those of Real Madrid do so in that of Cybele.

As part of Ventura Rodríguez's original project, both fountains were, at first, facing each other, facing each other on one side of the Paseo del Prado. Both Cibeles and Neptuno underwent restructuring and relocation processes at the end of the 19th century, finally occupying the center of the Cibeles and Cánovas del Castillo squares, respectively.

The authorship of the sculpture is not very clear, since it was commissioned from Juan Pascual de Mena, a sculptor who died before completing it; However, there are documents that prove that the work was continued by his disciple José Arias. As for the monumental complex, the shell-shaped float emerges on a rocky base, pulled by the two seahorses, symbols of storms and the rough sea. The work represents the god of the sea, with his trident, on a shell-shaped chariot pulled by two sea horses.

With the fountain of Apollo, or the Four Seasons, and that of Cybele, it was part of the decoration for the Prado Hall, designed by Charles III. The Plaza de Neptuno occupies a central place on the Paseo del Prado and is home to the Westin Palace Hotel and the Mandarin Oriental Ritz, two of the most historic hotels in Madrid.

Source: Madrid City Council. Madrid Destination.