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Leda and the Swan

Leda and the Swan was a statue depicting the classical myth of Leda and the Swan and served as an important landmark in Copenhagen from 1610/1611 until 1795. It stood on a high column directly at the entrance to the naval harbor Arsenal. The monument was erected under King Christian IV on an artificially built island on a shallow sandbank, known as the Mermaid Bar because mermaids were reportedly seen there especially often. It was placed in front of the entrance to the new Arsenal harbor, which was completed around the same time. In 1795 the monument was removed because increasing ship traffic required the area to be deepened. The fate of the statue is unknown.

Engraving of Leda and the Swan atop a tall column above water, with swans nearby.
Leda and the Swan shown as a statue on a tall column in the water.
1746 © Lauritz de Thurah (1706–1759) · Public domain
Leda and the Swan statue on a column beside the harbor
The Leda and the Swan sculpture rises on a tall column near the water in the harbor scene.
1750 © Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain
A tall column with a small Leda and the Swan sculpture stands in the harbor water.
Leda and the Swan mounted on a tall column in Copenhagen Harbor.
© · Public domain
Panoramic 1611 engraving of Copenhagen harbor and cityscape.
A 1611 engraving showing Copenhagen’s harbor and cityscape.
1610 © Jan Diricksen · Public domain

Identification

TitleLeda and the Swan
Original titleLéda et le Cygne
Typestatue/monument

Iconography and meaning

Depicted subjectThe classical myth of Leda and the Swan

Historical context

Date built1610 or 1611
PatronKing Christian IV of Denmark
Built duringthe reign of Christian IV

Discovery and provenance

Nearby structure completioncompleted about the same time as the monument
Associated harborArsenal Harbour
Associated structureChristian IV's Arsenal
Associated site namethe Mermaid Bar/Sirens' Bank, so called because of reported mermaid sightings
Original locationan artificial islet with walled sides on a shallow sandbank in front of the entrance to Arsenal Harbour, Copenhagen
Original installation date range1610/1611
Original installation date1611

Physical characteristics

Mounted ona tall column
Water depth at siteabout 1 meter

History and restoration

Removal date1795
Reason for removalincreased ship traffic made dredging necessary
Later fateuncertain
Later reported locationpossibly on a garden property at Frederiksberg Allé shortly before 1900
Misattributed provenance claimLauritz de Thurah's Den Danske Vitruvius (1746) incorrectly stated that the statue had been brought from Kalmar as war booty; the error was repeated in later works