Honey, Can You Fetch Me Some Water?
There is something extremely calming about fountains. Especially when you know that the spring of water has been here long before you. A spring so old that it has seen all the battles in the city, a spring so generous and willing to give life to all of the city inhabitants and a spring that Zagreb can give all the thanks for its name. We have been writing about our city for a year now, and throughout the ladders of scary legends, cursed mountains, cruel rulers, and bloody battles there has never been a single word about its origin. I decided to undo this injustice and introduce you to the most primordial myth of all – the tale of Manduševac, Zagreb’s oldest spring. So, throw a coin in a wishing well for good fortune and wish me luck so I could hold your attention until the end of this post. Or, just throw in a coin for good luck, I won’t mind.
Image credit: Ivan Luzar
Before all the hipster places with street food and tapas bars, cafes with big glass windows made for observing the city’s tumult and latest fashion trends, before Wifi and even before electricity and our beloved Zagreb trams, and if you are to believe the national folklore, before Ban Jelačić decorated the homonymous square, there were nothing but the mere desert in the city center. There wasn’t even a city big enough for a square to represent it! Anonymous duke was returning from an exhausting battle. Exhausted by the travel and the battle itself, the duke thrust his sword into the ground and found a spring of clean water. 'Fetch!', he yelled to his fellow comrades. The verb ‘fetch’ literally translated to Croatian is ‘zagrabi’, hence the name – Zagreb.
Image credit: Ivan Luzar
This is one version. The other one includes, of course, a pretty girl and a pretty solid love story. So, there was this girl named Manda, whose beauty, like in most legends, was seemingly unmatched. So the aforementioned duke was still exhausted by the battle but this time, he asked Manda to fetch him some water. With manners of a true lady, and kind-hearted as she was, Manda felt sorry for the poor guy so she helped him. It was, of course, the love at first site. And due to this emotional explosion, we have the name of the city capital, and its first spring and life source, as well. Because, as I mentioned before, ‘fetch’ is pronounced ‘zagrabi’, and, oh well, Manda’s beauty was properly saluted with a nomenclature of clear blue water.
First historical trace of the name ‘Zagreb’ dates back to the middle of the thirteen century, so we can only assume that Manda and her duke fell in love some time before that. The question that crosses my mind from time to time is: ‘How come there is no follow-up story about the two love birds?’ Yup, you heard me right. There are a few Zagrebians who hadn’t had the chance to learn about the genesis of Zagreb’s legendary name, but no one quite knows what happened to Manda and the Duke. Did they got married and lived happily ever after? Did they raise their children and grow old together? Nobody knows. But, the thing we do know is that Manduševac spring formed the city centre and continued to do so until 1852 when the public authorities decided to honour it (just like Manda, what a coincidence) and made it a public fountain with drinking water for everyone to enjoy.
Image credit: Ivan Luzar
But, happiness did not last for long since other city authorities decided to hide Manduševac under the concrete slabs with no one to hear its silent and pure murmurs. But, almost a hundred years later, Manduševac was rediscovered. It happened in 1986, and, believe me, it was universally welcomed by Zagreb natives. So, there was nothing much left to do than to rebuild the fountain and let it flow undisturbedly brining joy not only to the pigeons residing in its freshness but to all of those seeking for a calm place to retrace their steps. So, next time when you walk by the fountain, try to remember Manda and the Duke and throw a coin in for their good fortune.
Header image credit: Ivan Luzar
Author: Lana Suša