SHE MAY NOT LOOK A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, BUT...
...she will be this Friday. On 23 August 2013,
The Little Mermaid celebrates her 100th birthday.
Sitting still on a stone would seem a rather dull existence to most.
The "life" of The Little Mermaid, however, has been everything but dull.
Since the statue was created by Edvard Eriksen and placed on Langelinie in 1913, the famous tourist attraction has been decapitated twice, had her arm sawn off, been painted on on numerous occasions and draped in garments by political activists.
Most recently, the Copenhagen icon made the trip all the way to China to serve as the centerpiece of the Danish pavilion at the 2010 Expo in Shanghai, attracting around 5.5 million visitors during her 8-month stay.
The Danish Embassy in Greece
Story of the sculpture
Unveiled on August 23, 1913 The Little Mermaid was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen.
The sculpture is made of bronze and granite and was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land.
Every morning and evening she swims to the surface from the bottom of the sea and, perched on her rock in the water, she stares longingly towards the shore hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince.
Fell in love
Carl Jacobsen fell in love with the character after watching a ballet performance based on the fairy tale at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen.
The brewer was so captivated by both the fairy tale and the ballet that he commissioned the sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create a sculpture of the mermaid.
Inspired by a ballerina
The sculpture was inspired by ballerina Ellen Price, who in 1909 danced the lead role in the ballet The Little Mermaid at the Royal Theatre.
However, Ellen Price did not want to model in the nude. The sculptor Edvard Eriksen's wife, Eline Eriksen, posed for the sculpture of The Little Mermaid.
Other Mermaid Activities
During the weekend The Little Mermaid will be celebrated in various places in Copenhagen.
August 5 - September 1: Discover Copenhagen's hidden mermaids. Take a picture and instagram #littlemermaidcph. Examples of hidden mermaids
August 5 - December 31: Free exhibition about The Little Mermaid atCopenhagen Souvenir
Address: Frederiksberggade 17, 1459 Copenhagen K
Address: Frederiksberggade 17, 1459 Copenhagen K
August 19 - September 19: Seaworthy Stories at The Blue Planet Aquarium
Address: Jacob Fortlingsvej 1, 2770 Kastrup
Address: Jacob Fortlingsvej 1, 2770 Kastrup
August 23 (16:30-19:00): Visit Carlsberg celebrates The Little Mermaid
Address: Gamle Carlsbergvej 11, 1799 København V
Address: Gamle Carlsbergvej 11, 1799 København V
August 25: ECCO Walkathon
Meeting point: Kastellet 1, 2100 København Ø
Meeting point: Kastellet 1, 2100 København Ø
ΤΟ ΔΙΑΒΑΣΑ ΕΔΩ : http://www.visitcopenhagen.com
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