The Poseidon statue by Carl Milles is perhaps one of Gothenburg's most famous landmarks and a good representative of the artist's famous creations. Ancient and Christian mythology and Swedish history were often Milles’ sources of inspiration and the innovation lay in his personal interpretations of the motifs. Among other things, he borrowed stylistic features from archaic and Etruscan art and brought together the heavy materials such as bronze or stone with water and air by placing the sculptures on tall pillars or in fountains.
Milles started the work with the Poseidon fountain around 1925 and the well itself was ready and in place in 1927. However, it took another three years before "Poseidon", in 1930, arrived on site and then in a revised design. The catalog number is recorded in the literature as "a first sketch for the Poseidon figure" and shows Milles’ original first idea for the figure's design.