4/5 José C. 2 months ago on Google • 317 reviews New
The
Sailors'
Monument,
the
national
monument
to
the
efforts
of
Norwegian
sailors
at
sea
from
the
Viking
Age
to
the
20th
century,
paid
for
with
raised
funds,
was
opened
on
7
June
1950.
The
monument
is
a
sensational
but
controversial
sculptural
account
of
Norwegian
seafaring,
expressed
in
the
form
of
12
sculptural
sailors
and,
above
them,
eight
reliefs
at
two
heights
that
contribute
to
additional
knowledge.
Four
centuries
of
Norwegian
maritime
history
are
reviewed
on
various
sides
of
the
monument.
The
10th
century
is
presented
as
"Vinlandsferd",
and
the
statues
depict
a
chieftain
with
a
spear,
a
bald
man
in
a
fur
cape,
and
a
berserker
with
a
shield
on
his
back.
The
reliefs
show
i.a.
a
Viking
sailing
ship
and
a
meeting
between
Vikings
and
Indians.
The
18th
century,
"Grønlandsferd",
is
symbolized
by
a
scout
fisherman,
a
burly
captain
about
to
give
orders
and
a
sailor
with
a
pipe
in
his
mouth.
The
reliefs
are
linked
to
the
rediscovery
of
Greenland
in
Bergen.
Hans
Egede
is
seen
preaching
the
Christian
gospel
to
the
Eskimos
and
a
sinkhole
with
a
sea
serpent
snaking
under
the
ship.
On
the
side
of
the
19th
century,
with
the
inscription
"Kornferd",
you
can
see
a
shipowner
in
a
straw
hat,
a
boy
from
the
maiden
voyage
and
a
pilot.
The
reliefs
show
whaling
and
scenes
from
a
shipyard.
The
20th
century
bears
the
inscription
"Oljeferd",
and
the
sculptures
depict
a
deck,
a
mate
with
binoculars
and
a
driver
with
a
wrench.
The
reliefs
show
a
ship
before
a
rising
sun
and
a
resurrection
scene.
The
drowning
are
resurrected
to
eternal
life
by
an
angel.
As
models,
Dyre
Vaa
did
not
use
sailors,
but
rather
villagers.
Several
Telemark
farmers
from
that
era
must
have
been
easily
recognizable.
Vaa
worked
on
the
monument
during
the
war.
In
1944,
no
fewer
than
25
plaster
statues
were
installed
in
his
studio
in
Rauland.
The
number
was
therefore
later
reduced
by
more
than
half.
The
Sailor's
Monument
should
be
considered
a
very
rich
memorial,
a
work
of
art
that
in
itself
is
an
entire
art
exhibition.
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