User:Cpaolisso/sandbox

Agnete and the Merman Sculpture "Agnete and the Merman" is a group of bronze sculptures located underwater in the Holmens Canal under the Hojbro Bridge. It has been referred to as one of the least known works of art in Copenhagen. These sculptures were made in 1992 by Danish sculptor, photographer, and author, Suste Bonnen. The sculptures portray the Merman and his seven sons extending their arms out, begging Agnete to return home. Three other mermaid sculptures are located in the Copenhagen; The Black Diamond Mermaid, a copy of Anne Marie Carl Neilson’s 1921 statue; a large 15 ft. granite mermaid located on the port-of-call cruise ship dock in Copenhagen; and finally the famous Little Mermaid statue located on the water’s edge in Langelinie promenade in Copenhagen. The Symbol of Mermaids in Danish Folklore The original story of Agnete and the merman, or in Danish, “Agnete go Havmanden” is one of the many fairy tales found in Danish Folklore. The poem was passed on by word of mouth for generations, as is the norm for numerous folktales. The fantastic creature involved in the story, the merman, mermaid or mer-person, is a repeated figure in traditional Danish lore. Danish author Hans Christian Andersen wrote the popular story turned movie, The Little Mermaid. The statue in Copenhagen, Denmark titled appropriately, “The Little Mermaid”, represents that fairy tale. The actual statue has been deemed more than just a popular tourist attraction, but rather a symbol of the country itself. The sculptures that represent the Agnete and the Merman story symbolize the cultural importance of Danish folklore to the people of Copenhagen. Much like how the Greeks eternalized their mythology with statues of Artemis and Poseidon, Suste Bonnen used bronze to capture a specific story of love and loss. External Links http://www.kb.dk/en/kb/nyheder/nyheder/mermaid.html

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