Paper short abstract:

Marcus Sitticus represented his power as archbishop of Salzburg (1612-19) in creating his personal Arcadia Hellbrunn. Therefore he exploited the rich cultural source of legendary Neptune and arranged multiple aspects of that god there. Sitticus combined nature, art and guests to a sophisticated game

Paper long abstract:

Since ancient times building up a "villa suburbana" and arranging the vivid elements of nature into a place of longing has marked the social power. Literary sources and excavations of "villae" tied up the 16th century to the discourses and cultural self-producing of the Golden Age. The rich could present their power and skills by knowing those sources and rearranging them into new artistic attractions. Those arranged rooms made each visit to a special event and accordingly make their courts to a station of itineraries and travelouges.

Having and taming the elementary power of water belonged to the main challenges of the artists and engineers. Marcus Sitticus' Hellbrunn is a fascinating example of turning marshland into a witty Arcadia. The paper discusses that Sitticus didn't only shape and enrich the nature with sculptures and architecture. I would like to argue that he used the attractions of other courts to go a step further - further than just the objective meaning. He arranged them to different rooms, where you had to step in and experience his new narration.

Up to the present day Neptune is the force that pushes humans and actions forward. After you passed his character his waters are always by your side. They will change their speed, forms or conditions to manipulate the atmosphere, room and sounds. Sitticus tamed Neptune and presented him from the stimulating and refreshing god on to the earthshaking god of apocalypse. He moved or petrified his guests by the power of Neptune.