Even though “The Little Mermaid” statue is small it has a giant history. Knowing the history behind the sites that you go to see on your vacation will make a huge difference as to how much you enjoy it. I use the Scatter Travel Journey Planner to research and take the info with me. The Little Mermaid came from the story written by Hans Christian Andersen in 1837. The little mermaid saved a shipwrecked prince and tried to win his love. After seeing the ballet of “The Little Mermaid” Carl Jacobsen a Danish brewer commissioned Edward Eriksen to make a statue of The Little Mermaid out of Bronze. The head of the statue was modeled after the dancer in the ballet Ellen Price and the body he modeled after his wife. Destruction and desecration have been the sad lot of “The Little Mermaid.” She has been painted red, being decapitated several times, and had her arm cut off. I am glad that they have continued to restore her.
When we were in Copenhagen she sat proudly on her rock while numerous tourists tried to get their picture with her. I think I heard that she is the most photographed woman in the world.