Gefion Fountain
Quick facts: Gefion Fountain is a monumental sculpture in Copenhagen, Denmark, depicting a Norse goddess and her oxen.
- It illustrates the legend of Gefion plowing the island of Zealand from Sweden using her transformed sons.
- Completed in 1908 and funded by the Carlsberg Foundation, it's a significant piece of Danish art.
- Its impressive scale and powerful artistry make it a unique landmark near Kastellet fortress.
The story behind...
The Gefion Fountain depicts the Norse goddess Gefion, who legend says plowed the island of Zealand out of Sweden using her four sons, transformed into oxen for the task.
Designed by Anders Bundgaard and completed in 1908, the fountain was originally intended for City Hall Square but found its permanent home here, near the Kastellet fortress. Gefion herself is associated with plowing, fertility, and abundance — in Old Norse her name means “giving” or “generous.”
The fountain was funded by the Carlsberg Foundation, which has supported Danish art and science for generations. Look closely and you'll notice the raw power in the oxen and the determination on Gefion's face — a striking scale for a sculpture over a century old.
