Gefion Fountain

Welcome to the Gefion Fountain, a monument of staggering dramatic intensity and scale. Located near the historic Kastellet fortress and the waterfront, this fountain is a masterpiece of early twentieth-century public art. …

Let us focus our analytical gaze upon the central, dominating figure of the monument: The Goddess Gefion. She stands at the highest point of the bronze sculptural group, a paragon of fierce, unyielding mythological power. …

Shift your attention to the four massive beasts straining beneath the goddess's whip: the oxen. Remember the myth—these are not ordinary animals, but Gefion's own giant sons, transformed for this brutal task. …

Look below the bronze figures to analyze the massive, tiered stone basins that form the foundation of the monument. The fountain does not utilize delicate, choreographed jets of water. …

As you walk around the basin, take note of the striking architectural juxtaposition occurring immediately behind the fountain. Looming over the splashing water and pagan mythological figures is the elegant, sharp spire of St. …

Step slightly away from the immediate spray of the fountain and look toward the green embankments nearby. You are standing on the edge of the Kastellet, one of the best-preserved star fortresses in Northern Europe. …

Finally, turn your gaze eastward, looking past the fountain toward the expansive harbor of the Langelinie promenade. You can smell the distinct, sharp tang of the open sea salt mixing with the freshwater mist of the fountain. …

As our analytical study of the Gefion Fountain comes to a close, take a moment to stand directly in front of the cascading basin, letting the mist cool your face and the roar of the water fill your ears. We have dissected a…