Heidelberg Bridge Monkey

The purpose of the tower was to instill fear and respect in anyone arriving in the town, while the monkey represented mockery.

[1] Touching his bare backside, the monkey showed the Electoral Palatinate Greeting to passers-by.

The people of Heidelberg wanted to demonstrate that the Bishops in Mainz held no power over the Electors of the Palatinate.

In contrast to its predecessors, the monkey's right hand does not grasp its posterior, but shows the sign of the horns, which is supposed to ward off the evil eye.

Since the plush toy is intended for children, the monkey does not grasp its posterior or show the sign of horns.