The 2020 conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was widely criticized by countries including the US and Greece.

The decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque is seen as a challenge to Turkey's secularism, with many believing it helps President Erdogan's Islamo-nationalist base.

The conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque prioritizes its Islamic past over its Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, and Syriac heritage.

In Islamic tradition, human figures are forbidden in places of prayer, leading to the covering of Jesus and Mary mosaics in Hagia Sophia.

The Turkish government's decision to convert Hagia Sophia into a mosque has been met with international criticism from the Greek Orthodox Church and UNESCO.

As a tour guide in Istanbul, be aware of visitors' diverse backgrounds when discussing the Hagia Sophia conversion.

Tour guides can acknowledge Hagia Sophia's historical and cultural significance as a UNESCO World Heritage site and symbol of co-existence.

Guides can address concerns by explaining the building's history as an Orthodox cathedral and its current use as a mosque.

The Turkish government has introduced separate entrances for worshippers and tourists at the Hagia Sophia mosque.

The mosque prioritizes its religious function while remaining open to all visitors.

Hagia Sophia is a symbolically important site for Orthodox Christians, similar to St. Peter's Cathedral for Catholics.

The Turkish government has implemented UNESCO-advised restoration decisions for the Hagia Sophia.

A visitor management plan will regulate visitor density and improve visit quality and safety.

Information about the Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages via a QR code application and headphones.

The certification process for tour guides involves rigorous training to ensure a deep understanding of the sites' history, culture, and significance.

The 2020 conversion of Hagia Sophia into a mosque by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was widely criticized by countries including the US and Greece.

Title:

Content: >
December 9, 2021

Christian leaders look forward to Turkey's new law on religious foundations

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities whose places of worship are entrusted to and managed by their governing bodies

Religious minorities in Turkey are looking forward to the increasingly Islamo-nationalist government making good its promise of outreach to non-Muslims by giving them freedom to establish and run their religious and social institutions.

The Turkish government is preparing to issue a new regulation on the administrative management of foundations linked to non-Muslim faith communities, which have been paralyzed for years by a legislative impasse that blocks the renewal of their governing bodies.

This is an issue of vital importance for local Christian communities such as Armenians and Assyrians, whose places of worship – many of them historic --, other real estate and public institutions are entrusted to and managed by foundations.

Burhan Ersoy, head of the state-run Directorate of the Foundations, has confirmed that the plan for the drafting of a new regulation concerning the elections for the assignment of offices within the foundations has come into being, Fides reported.

The draft of the text has been drawn up, taking into account requests and proposals from the various minority communities, and it is expected that the new rules, after obtaining government approval, would be implemented by April 2022.

The previous electoral regulation for the top management of foundations had been suspended in 2013, after the government chose to establish new procedures to make the management of real estate more functional and transparent.

This led to some confusion with representatives of the various minority communities unable to come to a consensus to either accept or reject the new electoral rules, Ersoy said.

The Syrian Orthodox Christian Süleyman Can Ustabaşı, current representative of the non-Muslim Foundations within the Assembly of Foundations, has said that the structure of foundations and their membership profiles had changed over time.

The Turkish government already had consultations with the representatives of religious minorities to resolve the dispute over board elections for their foundations.

But Ustabaşı now urges Turkish authorities to carry out another consultation with representatives of minority communities before the new text is to be implemented in 2022.

The legal status of the Foundations is still based on the Peace Treaty of Lausanne, signed in 1923 by Turkey and the Entente powers (British Empire, France and Russian Empire) victorious from the First World War.

The treaty guaranteed equality before the laws and the freedom to promote and manage "religious and social institutions" for non-Muslim communities in Turkey.

However, the state had seized properties run by these foundations and had to contend with litigation as these foundations claimed the rights guaranteed by the Treaty of Lausanne.

Also, starting from 1936, legislative provisions had allowed foundations of non-Muslim communities to acquire new properties. But in 1974, this guarantee was canceled and the state begun seizing assets acquired by these foundations.

Between 2013 and 2018 about 1,084 properties were returned to the foundations linked to non-Muslim communities, and 20 places of worship restored and given back to the foundations, according to official data.

Greek Orthodox Laki Vingas, in a speech published by the Armenian-Turkish newspaper Agos, said that the legislative deadlock on the question of the regulation of the foundations has had a negative effect on the life of the different ecclesial communities.

The block in the processes of renewal of the governing bodies of foundations had led to the expulsion of young people from the institutions linked to their communities, and also that many voluntary activities were "unfortunately interrupted".

Non-Muslim places of worship

Within the general Assembly of the Turkish Foundations are some 167 minority foundations. The Turkish Greek community has 77, the highest number of foundations. The Armenian community has 54 and the Jewish community has 19 foundations.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan after a cabinet meeting held on October 25 announced that authorities had put on the agenda the question of the elections of the directorates of the foundations linked to religious minorities.

He also spoke of fundamental tools for the management of assets and resources destined for non-Muslim places of worship.

The issue of the foundations come at a time when Turkish authorities have expelled more and more Protestant Christians -- foreigners and Turkish converts-- on grounds they constitute a "threat to national security".

Turkey had also recently transformed museums into mosques, such as the Hagia Sophia and the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora.

Both churches had been turned into museums after the end of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of modern Turkey.

The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora was built by the Byzantines in the 5th century. The Ottomans then turned it into a mosque after they captured Constantinople in 1453. And it remained a Muslim worship space until the end of the Second World War when it was transformed into a museum.

The same happened to the Hagia Sophia Museum in Iznik, and the high-profile reconversion of the Hagia Sophia Museum, Istanbul's most identifiable monument.

Many observers believe that President Erdogan, weakened internally by a bad economy and a lack of political perspective, is compensating with erasing part of the country's multiculturalism, aimed at shoring up the ranks of his Islamo-nationalist base.

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Title:

Content: After Hagia Sophia, Turkey converts a second ancient Byzantine church into a mosque

Hundreds of worshippers filled the narrow streets of Istanbul's Fatih district on Friday to hear the sounds of Friday prayers ringing out from the newly inaugurated Kariye Mosque.

Once known as the Chora Church, the site spent the last 79 years as a museum. But it is now the latest structure to be converted back into a mosque by the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, following the conversion of Hagia Sophia in 2020. While viewed as a triumph by many Turkish Muslims, the Greek Orthodox Church has decried it as an "ill-advised decision" that "makes a mockery of the Turkish government's commitment to religious tolerance and religious freedom."

Chora's conversion was announced shortly after Hagia Sophia's, but its opening for prayer was delayed by years of restoration work.

The showing for the first Friday prayers at Kariye was relatively quiet compared to Hagia Sophia, which drew hundreds of thousands who filled the streets with prayer rugs for blocks and blocks away from the building. By contrast, the crowd on Friday was relatively average for a mosque in one of Istanbul's more religiously conservative neighborhoods, where Friday worshippers frequently spill out onto the streets.

Both the Chora Church and Hagia Sophia are 4th-century Byzantine constructions. They spent nearly a millennium as Christian holy sites before being converted to mosques by the Ottomans after their conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century. Despite their conversions, they remained revered by Orthodox Christians. After the founding of a secular Turkish Republic in the early 20th century, the decision was made for both to be neither mosque nor church but simply museums.

"Both Hagia Sophia and Chora embodied Byzantine and Ottoman pasts, and they became symbols of co-existence and multi-faith living practices. Their conversion fundamentally implies a hierarchy, prioritizing the Islamic past over all other layers, Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Jewish, Syriac, et al," Dr. Özgür Kaymak, a lecturer and researcher on minority rights at Istanbul's MEF University, told Religion News Service in an email.

Rededicating the sites as mosques is more than just a status change. According to Islamic tradition, artwork of human figures are forbidden in places of prayer, while in Orthodox Churches, icons of Christ, saints and other biblical figures are a defining feature.

In Hagia Sophia, the mosaics of Jesus and Mary have been covered with curtains since the conversion. While Erdoğan promised Hagia Sophia would remain fully accessible and free to all visitors, Turkey reneged on that earlier this year, reimposing an entrance fee on tourists and relegating them to the upper level, while the main floor is exclusive to Muslim worshippers.

Observers have also criticized the Turkish Directorate of Religion's caretaking of the site, noting damage that did not exist when it was under the purview of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Though Chora is significantly smaller than Hagia Sophia, it is home to some of the best-preserved examples of late-Byzantine art, including mosaics, icons and frescoes, and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"For us it's a very important place because it remembers our culture and our traditions here," Father Evangelos Markantonis, an Orthodox priest who was leading a group of theology students to Chora on Friday, told Religion News Service.

"Though we cannot venerate as Orthodox Christians, we have to try to find things we can be united on. Only with dialogue and good deeds can we continue our lives," Markantonis, who is also a professor at the University of Athens, said when asked about the controversy.

Erdoğan had long refused calls from his right to convert churches like Hagia Sophia and Chora, telling supporters in 2018 to fill the nearby Sultan Ahmet Mosque (also known in English as the Blue Mosque) before they talked about needing to pray in Hagia Sophia.

Nonetheless, he made an about-turn in 2020.

"My dear nation, the conquest of Istanbul and the conversion of the Hagia Sophia into a Mosque are among the most glorious chapters in Turkish history," Erdoğan said at the time in a speech inaugurating the Hagia Sophia as a mosque.

"This is the most honorable day that Islam has been looking forward to, Greek Constantinople has become Turkish Istanbul," he added, quoting the Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet.

"The resurrection of Hagia Sophia heralds the liberation of the al-Aqsa Mosque. The resurrection of Hagia Sophia is the footsteps of the will of Muslims across the world to come out of the interregnum," Erdoğan said in his concluding remarks.

Chora's opening as the Kariye Mosque comes just weeks after Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP) suffered its largest electoral defeat in two decades during Turkey's nationwide municipal elections.

"The recent conversion of Chora into a mosque may be due to Erdoğan's many problems, including his geopolitical power politics, his appeal to religio-nationalism to revive his electoral popularity after the March elections or his tactic to divert attention from Turkey's economic downturn," Kaymak said.

Many analysts have attributed the loss to AKP bleeding votes to the more Islamist-leaning New Welfare Party, which has pressured Erdogan over his response to the Israel-Hamas war and humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

Muslim worshippers at the mosque on Friday said they viewed its rededication as an Islamic site to be a national win for Turkey.

"This mosque is one of the symbols of the Conquest. We are proud and happy. There are very beautiful frescoes inside. They were also nicely renovated before they were closed. May it be good for our country and our nation," a bystander, Ahmet Öteyüzoğlu, told Turkish media.

"Thank God for these days. Not everyone has the opportunity in their lifetime," another bystander named Mehmet Çelik told the Turkish news service Anadolu Agency, in reference to having been able to pray at both the rededicated Hagia Sophia and Kariye Mosques.

However, Greece, the U.S. State Department and Orthodox Christian institutions worldwide have all criticized the decision to revert the structure into a mosque.

"I want to publicly express my intense dissatisfaction, interpreting the feelings of all Greek women and men, for the completely unnecessary conversion of a historic Byzantine temple, the Monastery of Chora, into a mosque. It is, I believe, an action that offends the rich history of Istanbul itself as a crossroads of cultures," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said shortly before leaving for Turkey for a planned meeting with Erdogan.

"We encourage the Turkish government to preserve and ensure access to sites and buildings that have hosted different religious communities in a way that respects their diverse histories," a State Department spokesperson said in response to questions from Greek media.

"The Turkish government's appropriation of both as the property of one faith group not only constitutes yet another sign of that government's contempt for Turkey's rich Orthodox Christian heritage but further imperils the religious freedom of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the remaining Christians of that land," the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate said in a statement.

© Religion News Service

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Content: New rules come into force for the visit of Hagia Sophia Mosque in Turkey - Sunrise Gate
Tuesday 16 January 2024 2: 04 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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New rules come into effect for visiting Hagia Sophia mosque in Turkey
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Published on: Tuesday 16 January 2024 - 1: 54 PM | Last updated on Tuesday 16 January 2024 - 1: 54 PM
The project for the Hagia Sophia mosque was closest to the heart of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan – but it was also the project that drew international criticism.
In the summer of 2020, Erdogan restored Hagia Sophia to be a mosque after it was originally a church, converted into an Ottoman mosque, converted into a museum.
At the time, Erdogan assured citizens that entry fees would be abolished, adding that the cultural edifice would remain open to everyone – Muslims or non-Muslims alike.
There will be another major change from January 15, with access to the Hagia Sophia restricted and visitors will have to pay fees again.
Turkish Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Arsoy hopes this will improve coexistence between religious and tourist visitors.
Arsoy said recently that tourist visitors are making noise and disrupting calm and prayer.
Until recently, visitors and worshippers were allowed to enter the interior of Hagia Sophia together, with barriers and signs keeping a certain distance between them.
However, from now on, worshippers and tourists will be introduced through different entrances.
Although worshippers can use the same entrances as before, tourists will be guided through an upstairs hallway.
According to Arsoy, tour guides will not be allowed to accompany visitors through the corridors, and earphones will be used instead.
“Our priority there is prayer, ” Arsoy said, noting that the building is a world cultural heritage site and should therefore remain open to all visitors around the world.
Zuleiha Duman, 29, who returned to Istanbul from Germany to see Hagia Sophia after it was converted into a mosque, said she found it taking away.
Welcoming the new rules, she said: “As long as the entrance fee isn ’ t too high, I think it ’ s acceptable. ”
“Why shouldn ’ t Turkey and the government take advantage of this place?
These funds can be channeled to preserve more religious places. ”
Hagia Sophia has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of Istanbul ’ s history since 1985.
Built by Emperor Justinian, Hagia Sophia was the largest place of worship in Christianity for nearly a thousand years, it was the main church during the Byzantine Empire, and from the seventh century, the emperor was crowned inside.
After the Ottomans entered Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1453, the Hagia Sophia was converted into a mosque.
On the orders of the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the building was converted into a museum in 1934 until the summer of 2020.
Hagia Sophia is as symbolically important to Orthodox Christians around the world as St. Peter ’ s Basilica is to Catholics.
After the building was converted into a mosque, criticism poured in from the Greek Orthodox Church.
The UNESCO Foundation also criticized the decision without consultation.
For Erdogan, turning the place into a mosque was his “childhood dream, ” as he himself said, and pleasing to religious voters.
A few external changes were made at the time, for example, a green carpet was placed above the marble floor.
It seems clear that all these things did not detract from the popularity of this teacher.
According to official statistics, some 13.6 million people visited the Hagia Sophia landmark in 2022, not all of them from Europe.
The number of visitors from Indonesia in particular has risen, Hagia Sophia Imam Binyamin Topoglu told Turkey ’ s Anadolu news agency in 2023.
The amount of the fees has not yet been determined.
Tourism Minister Ersoy says the proceeds will be spent on cultural assets, for excavation or preservation of monuments such as the Hagia Sophia.
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How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

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How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

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How did Muslims and Orthodox Christians react to the reconversion?

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What political motivations influenced Erdogan's decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia?

Erdogan's decision was influenced by Turkey's Islamic resurgence.

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Consider both Muslim and Christian voices

Tour guides can acknowledge Hagia Sophia's historical and cultural significance as a UNESCO World Heritage site and symbol of co-existence.

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Content: Turkey’s iconic Hagia Sophia mosque to charge $28 entry fee for tourists

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Turkey’s Hagia Sophia mosque began charging tourists nearly $28 on Monday for entrance to the landmark site.

The UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its blue-tiled interior, will no longer allow free admission to foreigners, the Turkish tourism ministry announced.

For the latest headlines, follow our Google News channel online or via the app.

The former museum-turned mosque has a new entrance in front of the Topkapi Palace Museum open for tourists.

Tunnel entrance at Turkey's Hagia Sophia. (File photo)

The Hagia Sophia was a museum space from 1934 until 2020 when Turkey decided to change it to a mosque. Various historical reports say the mosque with byzantine architecture was an Orthodox cathedral decades ago.

“With the new application that will start on January 15 at the Hagia Sophia Mosque, tourists will be able to visit the mosque without disturbing the prayer environment,” the ministry said in a statement.

The entrance to the mosque will be “provided in a controlled manner through the tunnel and entrance ramp where visitors will be transported to the gallery floor and exited via the ramp in the northeast direction,” the statement said.

“Tourists who come to the gallery section will be able to see the sanctuary floor of the mosque and the Ottoman Period annexes, pass through the heaven-hell gate, and examine the Byzantine Period mosaics in this section,” it added.

Security cameras, fire detection and emergency announcement systems were reportedly installed in the mosque along the tour route. Cleaning and conservation work on the marble coverings and wooden railings on the gallery floor of the mosque was also carried out by restorers and conservators.

Visitors will also have access to a headset guide with QR codes where information on the sight is available in 23 languages.

People visit the Hagia Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Istanbul, Turkey, July 10, 2020. (Reuters)

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repositioned Hagia Sophia as a global cultural landmark.

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Title:

Content: Events
Entrance to Hagia Sophia will again be paid, but not for everyone
Minister of Culture and Tourism of Turkey Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that visiting the Ayia Sophia mosque for foreign citizens from January 15 will be paid.
Ersoy, who held a press conference at the Ataturk Cultural Center (AKM), said that according to the first 9 months of tourism, the total number of visitors, which last year amounted to 40.2 million people, increased to 45.2 million at the end of September.
Noting that Ayia Sophia and Sultanahmet Square are included in the UNESCO permanent heritage list, Ersoy said that they listened to the advice and opinions of UNESCO and implemented the decisions on the restoration of the Ayia Sophia Mosque.
Minister Ersoy stressed that from January 15, 2024, they will move to the management plan of the visitors of Agia Sofya on the recommendation of UNESCO, and said:
“In this management plan, the quality of visits and safety will be improved.
Density will be regulated by distributing it along different routes.
Again, our precious mosque will be incorporated into a very ideal ecosystem focused on protecting and promoting the "Common Heritage of Humanity".
According to Ersoy, the entrance for worshippers will remain the same, but the tourist entrance will change, so that these two streams will not change. that information about Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages through an application with a QR code and headphones.
Ersoy added: “From now on, visitors will be able to complete the process by receiving detailed information about the entire history and iconography of Hagia Sophia in a quiet environment without disturbing the faithful. ”
Noting that from January 15, 2024, foreign tourists visiting the mosque will be charged a ticket fee, Ersoy said: “Visits by our Turkish citizens for the purpose of worship will be free as before.
This practice also exists in many countries. "
In general, judging by the words of Ersoy, the Hagia Sophia mosque will partially return to the function of a museum.
The most important question that may concern us now is whether the mosque will become accessible to believers from other countries?
Ersoy said that free entrance will remain only for Turkish citizens, but perhaps here he was simply referring to those who come to the mosque for the purpose of prayer, since it is obvious that the absolute majority of those praying are Turks.
In any case, we hope for this, because if passports are checked at the entrance to the mosque, and the descendants of Bosniaks or Albanians are asked to pay money so that they can pray in the mosque that their ancestors conquered in the army of Sultan Fatih Mehmed, any neo-Ottomanism can be put a bold end to.
Author: Jakub Hadžić
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A visitor management plan will regulate visitor density and improve visit quality and safety.

Information about the Hagia Sophia will be provided in 16 languages via a QR code application and headphones.

The certification process for tour guides involves rigorous training to ensure a deep understanding of the sites' history, culture, and significance.

Title:

Content: BARBERINO-TAVERNELLE, TUSCANY— There’s a big difference between a tour host and a tour guide. A tour guide goes through rigorous training for a particular city, region, or institution. They do a deep dive into history, dates, personalities, and minute details into towns and locales such as Florence, Italy. The detailed comprehension required to become certified is amazing and the depth of knowledge these guides possess once training is completed is impressive.

My friend, and coworker, Marina Mengelberg, is a registered tour guide for Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and the Tuscan region. Each of those areas require specific training. One must know thousands of details and facts, from structural landmarks on the city streets, to the lineage of artist’s families, to religious history and symbolism and a depth of knowledge in architectural details, to the point that one becomes a walking history book and reference guide at the end of the training.

Once the intense training is complete, the hopeful guide must sit in front of a six-person panel in a scenario that sounds a lot like defending one's thesis. The room is crowded behind the six questioners. In a high-pressure situation, everyone in the gallery is watching as the tour-guide candidate spends the next hour or so answering questions such as, “In the Uffizi Gallery, on the third floor, in the second room, and the third painting on the right, who is that artist’s mother and why is she important?

I don't possess that kind of knowledge, nor do I have time to do the work that would go into such training, even if my memory would allow it. That's partially why I am a tour host. In my travels I have found certain places that I love, locals-only restaurants, wineries, out-of-the-way historical institutions, and local finds that I enjoy sharing with others. There's something deep inside me that loves turning people onto new things. I've always been that way.

I am probably the living example of the adage, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I don't claim to be an expert at anything but there are a couple of areas where I feel I am extremely competent. One area in which I believe I'm very good— and my track record proves it— is that I have some type of intrinsic ability to pick excellent tour guides. I'm pretty good at picking nice hotels and villas as well.

Marina Mengelberg is the ultimate example of my ability to recognize talent and saddle up alongside it. It's obviously a major benefit that my wife and I have become very good friends with her, and her children. Mengelberg possesses the raw, natural ability to connect with whomever she is with at the moment. That is the difference in a great guide and someone who can regurgitate facts on cue.

First and foremost, a great guide must be relatable. Seems simple, but that is not an easy thing to accomplish. Actually, it's probably the hardest thing to do in that field. There are plenty of people who can walk through a city or museum and recite dry facts. It's another thing to make people feel comfortable, grateful, appreciative, and willing to learn more in the process. There is a certain amount of charm and self-awareness that needs to be added to the mix of knowledge and training, too. But when those components all come together, the perfect guide is born.

Mengelberg is Dutch and grew up in the Netherlands watching American television. Other than her God-given intelligence and natural charm, I think that's a lot of the source of her relatability— and especially with southerners— as one of her favorite shows as a child was the “Dukes of Hazard.” I have never seen an episode of the “Dukes of Hazard,” but I know John Schneider, and once had him autograph an 8 by 10 glossy for Marina.

As Baby Boomers, we also grew up on American television. That is the connection. It's not that Marina ever talks about American TV shows. That topic never comes up. It's just the sensibility is there and there is a common denominator that allows her to connect and be relatable. Connection and relatability is the key to gaining one’s trust. The learning follows, easily.

Connection is not easy. The groups I host are varied in age, background, and region. Although they mostly come from the South. The fact that a Dutch born person, who's lived in Tuscany for the past 20 years can connect with Americans from California, to Florida, to Hattiesburg is an admirable trait.

This tour-hosting gig happened organically and started with the idea of taking a small group of people to Tuscany, once. That group filled in an afternoon and a waiting list was created. Then the waiting list grew a waiting list. After touring Tuscany several times, those guests started asking, “Where are we going next?” I figured Venice is the most unique city in the world, Bologna is the food capital of Italy, and Milan is beautiful at Christmastime, so I hosted a couple of those tours. Again, they asked “Where are we going next?” So, we toured Rome, the Amalfi Coast, and Naples.

Next Spain was added, and when I hosted that trip last March it was filled with almost all seasoned alumni of my past trips, For some it was their fourth or fifth trip with me. It should be noted that I have never been a fan of group travel. My wife and I have avoided those types of trips, always. But this is nothing like group travel. I’m not sure why it doesn’t feel that way, but it never has. It’s just like a group of friends getting together and discovering new places.

There was a group of eight ladies dining together in one of my new restaurants just a few weeks ago. All of them had traveled with me before some three or four times. At one point during their meal, I asked if any of them had known each other before going on the tours. The unanimous answer was, “No.” I’m not sure if I have ever felt more pride in something I’ve done in this tour-hosting career. I was a small component in creating eight bonds among newly made friends. They’re traveling with me in the future, too.

I was once invited to a reunion that was held by one of my previous groups, as a guest. They had connected so fittingly on their trip they wanted to stay in touch a few years later. I was not involved in planning of the reunion other that being asked to attend as an invitee.

We released next spring’s Spain trip dates and the tour filled in 90 minutes. The Holland-Belgium tour filled in an afternoon. Both groups were almost all veterans. My first thought was, “I must be doing something right on these trips.” But then I checked my ego at the door and realized that it’s people like Marina Mengelberg, and a dozen others who make an impact on people as they travel with me to these foreign lands. I hope each of them know how grateful I am and that I’ll never take them for granted.

Onward.

Robert St. John, who has spent four decades in the restaurant business, is the author of eleven books. For over 20 years, St. John has written a weekly syndicated newspaper column, and has been named the state’s top chef for three consecutive years and was honored as Mississippi Restaurateur of the Year.

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The statue has been a target of various forms of vandalism since its installation 110 years ago, including graffiti, paint, and physical destruction.

The Little Mermaid statue is a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital.

The statue was created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and weighs 175 kg, and it is a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Copenhagen.

The vandalism of the Little Mermaid statue is considered a case of vandalism by the police, and they are taking steps to prevent future incidents.

The Danish police have opened an investigation into the vandalism and are working to find out who committed the vandalism and when and how it happened.

The story behind each incident of vandalism is not fully explained in the documents, but it is believed that the vandalism may be related to various social and political issues, such as whale hunting, racism, and the Ukrainian conflict.

The motivations behind the vandalism may be related to Denmark's criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as other social and political issues.

The police are searching for evidence in the area to find the perpetrators of the vandalism incident.

Local authorities, law enforcement, and community organizations play a crucial role in preventing vandalism and protecting cultural heritage sites like the Little Mermaid statue.

The community is demanding the installation of surveillance cameras to monitor and protect the site of cultural heritage.

The director of culture has called on community organizations and associations to mobilize and protect cultural heritage sites.

The local council has appealed to community organizations to report any individuals who attempt to damage cultural heritage sites.

Surveillance cameras are being considered as a measure to prevent future vandalism and protect cultural heritage sites.

Community organizations are emphasizing the importance of protecting cultural heritage sites, which are a source of national pride and a tourist attraction.

The restoration of the Little Mermaid statue is likely to be similar to the restoration of other cultural artifacts and monuments that have been damaged by vandalism, in terms of the techniques and materials used to repair and conserve the statue.

The Little Mermaid statue is made of bronze and granite, and its restoration may involve the use of copper or bronze repair materials, as well as paint removal techniques and materials.

Unfortunately, there is no information available on the estimated costs and resources required for the conservation and restoration of the Little Mermaid statue.

There is also no information on how the conservation and restoration efforts of the statue are funded.

However, it is worth noting that other monuments and statues have undergone restoration efforts with significant costs, such as the Statue of Unity in India, which was built at a cost of $430 million.

Additionally, the restoration of Lucy the Elephant is estimated to cost $1.9 million, with funding provided by a federal government grant and the Save Lucy Committee.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been vandalized multiple times since its installation in 1913, with the first reported incident being the theft of its head in 1964.

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
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On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
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The head of the statue was stolen again in 1998, but it was later recovered and reattached.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

In 1984, one of the statue's arms was cut off, marking another instance of vandalism.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

The statue was also damaged by an explosion in 2003, which knocked it off its base.

In 2017, the statue was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

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The words 'racist fish' were painted on the base of the statue in 2020 during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd.

The statue was vandalized again in 2023, with the Russian flag painted on the stone it sits on, which may be related to Denmark's strong criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Copenhagen police have launched an investigation into the vandalism and are looking for clues to identify the perpetrators.

The statue has been a target of various forms of vandalism since its installation 110 years ago, including graffiti, paint, and physical destruction.

The Little Mermaid statue is a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital.

The statue was created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen and weighs 175 kg, and it is a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of Copenhagen.

The vandalism of the Little Mermaid statue is considered a case of vandalism by the police, and they are taking steps to prevent future incidents.

Title:

Content: In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag - RIA Novosti, 02.03.2023
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In Copenhagen, the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Reuters: In Copenhagen, the base of the statue of the Little Mermaid painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor
© AFP 2023 / Ritzau Scanpix / Ida Marie OdgaardThe Little Mermaid Statue in Copenhagen with a base painted in the colors of the Russian flag
Statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen with a painted in the colors of the Russian flag base
Read ria.ru in
ZURICH, March 2 — RIA Novosti.
The base of the statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, created on the basis of the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, was painted in the colors of the Russian tricolor, Reuters reported.
The Russian flag was found painted on the basis of a statue of the Little Mermaid in Denmark on Thursday, in what police say is a “case of vandalism ” at Copenhagen ’ s most famous landmark and a popular tourist destination.
As specified, the front part of the stone on which the monument is erected is painted.
At the same time, the police still do not know “who is behind this incident. ”
"The answer is on the statue of an angel."
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The Danish police have opened an investigation into the vandalism and are working to find out who committed the vandalism and when and how it happened.

The story behind each incident of vandalism is not fully explained in the documents, but it is believed that the vandalism may be related to various social and political issues, such as whale hunting, racism, and the Ukrainian conflict.

The motivations behind the vandalism may be related to Denmark's criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as other social and political issues.

The police are searching for evidence in the area to find the perpetrators of the vandalism incident.

Local authorities, law enforcement, and community organizations play a crucial role in preventing vandalism and protecting cultural heritage sites like the Little Mermaid statue.

Title:

Content: -- -- -- / -- -- --
Site Management
Civil society calls for the installation of surveillance cameras at the site
The desecration of the Byzantine Wall and “Bab Caracalla ” in Tebessa with disgraceful writings
B. Dredd
• 92
• 0
The inhabitants of the city of Tebessa, on Saturday, became shocked by what happened in the Byzantine wall, in the center of the city, which is one of the most important monuments of the city, where it was desecrated, through disgraceful and ugly writings, and inscription on its ancient stones, which belong to the Byzantine era.
The security authorities began an investigation into the offensive and immoral writings written on the stones of the Byzantine Wall, whether at the entrance of “Bab Constantine ”, or near“ Bab Caracalla ”, and this hostile behavior against the cultural heritage, led to widespread condemnation by citizens and civil society activists, who blamed the elements of adolescence whose goal is only to pollute society and its cultural heritage. It is necessary to place guards in the day and night of the place, which is located in the center of the city of Tebessa and is often affected by shameful acts.
Yesterday morning, the Cultural Department and the interests of the Directorate of Culture and the municipality's hangar moved, with all the material means available to them, to remove various writings, some of which were black paint, which can be removed, while it is difficult to rectify what has been engraved and excavated.
“Sunrise ”, which moved to the scene of the crime, asked the official of antiquities Ezzedine Badie about the level of desecration, said that this blatant desecration of antiquities, is an unforgivable crime, and distortion of nationally classified archaeological sites, with these random writings, stressing that historical monuments reflect the roots of the Algerian people, deep in history and a symbol of identity.
The Director of Culture, Mr. Jamal al-Din Labbadi, called on all civil society actors, associations and researchers to fully mobilize to protect archaeological sites and monuments, for his part, the President of the People ’ s Municipal Council Abdul Rajman Aouaishya, regrets the daily sunrise, for the desecration of places bearing cultural values, a destination for thousands of tourists who come from various European, Asian and American countries to visit. Tourists last year, foreigners, thousands of these sites, appealing to all civil society actors and associations to report anyone who seeks to harm the cultural and civilizational heritage.
For his part, the activist in the field of tourism and the head of the National Organization for Tourism Work, Sultan Jebaili, said that the public authorities are now required to put surveillance cameras, to put an end to the tampering and teenage behaviors that distorted the city center and historical monuments, where we notice garbage near the monuments and sometimes attached to its walls, not to mention these childish acts, especially since the state of Tebessa broke a record in 2023. All stop in front of the Byzantine wall and the gate of Caracalla and other monuments that abound in the city, as visited the place a university research mission, from Istanbul, Turkey, and was impressed by these, towards these treasures found contrary to all the Roman monuments in Algeria, in the heart of the city of Tebessa, where the mark was raised by the Arab Tebsi Sheikh and thinker Malik Ben Nabi.
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The community is demanding the installation of surveillance cameras to monitor and protect the site of cultural heritage.

The director of culture has called on community organizations and associations to mobilize and protect cultural heritage sites.

The local council has appealed to community organizations to report any individuals who attempt to damage cultural heritage sites.

Surveillance cameras are being considered as a measure to prevent future vandalism and protect cultural heritage sites.

Community organizations are emphasizing the importance of protecting cultural heritage sites, which are a source of national pride and a tourist attraction.

The restoration of the Little Mermaid statue is likely to be similar to the restoration of other cultural artifacts and monuments that have been damaged by vandalism, in terms of the techniques and materials used to repair and conserve the statue.

The Little Mermaid statue is made of bronze and granite, and its restoration may involve the use of copper or bronze repair materials, as well as paint removal techniques and materials.

Title:

Content: Copenhagen residents were outraged by the behavior of American tourists
1: 09 AM
The unusual behavior of an American tourist in Copenhagen caused a storm of indignation among other travelers who witnessed this incident.
The girl came to the statue of the Little Mermaid and, not paying attention to the prohibition to touch the monument, began to touch and even kiss her.
The witness of this incident was a tourist named Dylan Trinkler, who captured everything on his phone.
The video shows how the girl climbed the pedestal of the monument, pressed her face against it and began to kiss the statue.
At the same time, clear warning signs about the prohibition of such actions were installed around the sculpture.
Many people began to condemn the violator, shouted at her to leave.
It should be noted that the statue of the Little Mermaid was installed in 1913 and is made of bronze and granite.
It is part of Danish cultural heritage and is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen ’ s famous fairy tale about a mermaid who gave up her underwater world for the love of a prince on land.
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Monument to the fairy tale "Mermaid" in Denmark (DeafSPB)
Author Oleg Loginov
Oleg Loginov — HSE student, Pravda.Ru freelance correspondent

Unfortunately, there is no information available on the estimated costs and resources required for the conservation and restoration of the Little Mermaid statue.

There is also no information on how the conservation and restoration efforts of the statue are funded.

However, it is worth noting that other monuments and statues have undergone restoration efforts with significant costs, such as the Statue of Unity in India, which was built at a cost of $430 million.

Title:

Content: Statue of Unity in India.
The tallest statue in the world.
The icon of India, and the tallest statue in the world, at 182 meters high, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dreamed, in memory of the glories of Indian unity maker Sardar Patel, to become a cultural, entertainment and tourist center, not just a monument.
LOCATION
The Statue of Unity project is in a unique location, located on the island of Sadhupt on the Narmada River, the fifth largest river in India, about 3.5 km south of the Sardar Sarovar Dam in Kivadia in the north-western state of Gujarat.
The magnificent view of the Narmada River with the stunning nature surrounding it is a wildlife sanctuary, augmented by the importance of its religious, heritage and recreational sites.
DATE
The construction of the statue was first proposed in 2010 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was still the Chief Minister of Gujarat, in honor of Sardar Patel, India ’ s first Home Minister and First Deputy Prime Minister after independence, to demonstrate his great efforts in building India.
Patel, considered the architect of modern India and known in India as Iron Man, helped unify India ’ s 562 states, persuading rival states to become part of the Indian state after independence from British rule in 1947.
The building, designed by Indian sculptor Ram Soutar, began in 2014, was completed in mid-October 2018, and the opening ceremony was held on 31 October 2018, marking the 142nd anniversary of Patel ’ s birth.
The ceremony was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Indian government decided to celebrate Patel ’ s birthday and make it a national holiday marking the country ’ s National Unity Day.
DESIGN
The 182-metre-high statue is about twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty in New York, and is 54 meters taller than the Spring Temple of Buddha in China, which was once the tallest statue in the world.
The statue is a bronze version of Sardar Patel, dressed in a traditional Indian costume, and appears in a walking position, with his left leg slightly forward, as if walking on water towards the Sardar Sarovar Dam.
It stands on a triangular base, and the geometrically carved base is located on a river island, connected to the mainland via a 320-meter-long designed bridge connecting Sadhu Island to the mainland, and then a 3.5-kilometre road and transit centre runs up to the nearby town of Kivadia.
The project is not just a monument, but a well-deserved tourist complex, where the pedestal includes an audio-visual exhibition hall showcasing the life and achievements of Sardar Patel and the history of modern India.
The 200-person exhibition offers views of the surrounding countryside and the nearby Sardar Sarovar Dam.
The pedestal also includes a museum, an administrative complex, a 3-star hotel, and above the roof of the exhibition hall there is a memorial garden, as well as a visitor hall.
Construct
The project was overseen by a consortium including Turner Construction, Michael Graves Architecture and Design Company, and the Minhardt Group, and was built by Larsen and Toubro, with 3,400 workers and 250 engineers, and took 33 months to build.
Weighing about 67,000 tons, the statue used 210,000 cubic meters of concrete at the heart of the statue, 6,500 rolls of structural steel, 18,500 tons of reinforced steel, 1,850 tons of bronze cladding, and 1,700 tons of bronze panels cast in China.
The monument and its surroundings occupy more than 20,000 square meters, surrounded by an artificial lake of 12 square kilometers.
Facing the challenges
Building a statue of this size was one of India ’ s unique projects, but it posed many challenges to engineers, the government, the local community and the environment.
The wind presented a severe challenge, as the statue is located in the middle of the Narmada River, and is affected by winds of up to 130 km / h, which can lead to the destruction of the statue or serious damage.
It is therefore designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 180 km / h.
In addition to the walking position taken by the statue, as well as the gap of 6.4 meters between the feet, which had to be tested afterwards to withstand the wind speed.
In addition to the seismic hazards to which the area is exposed, the statue was built in accordance with international standards to preserve it from the risks of earthquakes and other factors of nature.
The statue is also located in the middle of a remote mountain terrain, which posed enormous difficulties in the delivery of materials, a rocky bridge over shallow water was built, as was the construction of the temporary Bailey Bridge.
Some local tribes have opposed land acquisitions to develop tourism infrastructure around the statue, forcing the government to offer cash and land compensation, as well as jobs.
Residents of the villages of Kivadia, Kuti, Wagodia, Limbdi, Navagam and Gora also opposed the construction of the statue, demanding the restoration of land rights in excess of 375 hectares of land previously acquired for the dam, as well as the new project.
Local residents staged demonstrations denouncing the project, saying it had destroyed natural resources.
FINANCE
The $430 million project was funded by a public-private partnership, with the state government of Gujarat raising most of the funds ($85 million), the federal government providing $36 million, in addition to contributions from the public sector and government companies, and hundreds of thousands of farmers from across India donated their equipment and parts of their land to the project.
Tourism and Economy
The project is an engineering marvel, it has already become a magnet for tourists from all over the country.
It was awarded Best Large Category Project of 2019 by PMI India.
The project has provided employment to more than 8,000 people, including more than 2,000 locals during the project ’ s construction period, and has attracted millions of tourists since its opening, boosting the local economy.
Source: Al Jazeera + Websites

Additionally, the restoration of Lucy the Elephant is estimated to cost $1.9 million, with funding provided by a federal government grant and the Save Lucy Committee.

Title:

Content: Lucy the Elephant gets government help for restoration

Carol Comegno
Cherry Hill Courier-Post
View Comments

MARGATE - The federal government has given a boost to the newly commenced restoration of Lucy the Elephant with the National Park Service announcement of a $500,000 preservation grant for the national landmark.

The grant is specifically for exterior renovation of the mammoth-sized attraction that has stood in the seaside resort of Margate for nearly 150 years.

The pachyderm already has been encased in scaffolding in preparation for its multi-million dollar restoration. Lucy stands six stories high, weighs about 80 tons and carries a "howdah" on its back, allowing visitors a great view of the beach town and surrounding resorts.

However, Lucy the Elephant tours were suspended last month pending completion of restoration by the Save Lucy Committee though Its gift shop remains open.

The scaffolding will allow construction workers to replace the metal skin of the giant statue.

"This $1.9 Million project will be one of the largest undertakings by the Save Lucy Committee in its continuing effort to preserve the National Historic Landmark and Oldest Roadside Attraction in America," the Lucy committee wrote on its website.

Lucy is considered a  rare example of 19th Century architectural "folly," according to the New Jersey Historic Trust.

Engineer and real estate mogul James Lafferty designed and built the attraction in 1881 during the Victorian era.

For more information visit https://lucytheelephant.org/

Carol Comegno loves telling stories about South Jersey life, history and military veterans for the Courier Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. If you have a story to share, call her at 856-486-2473 or email  ccomegno@gannettnj.com.

Support local journalism with a subscription.

View Comments


The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been vandalized multiple times since 1913, including the theft of its head in 1964.

The statue's head was stolen in 1964 and again in 1998, but was later restored.

In 1984, one of the statue's arms was cut off, adding to its damages.

The statue was blown off its base with explosives into the harbor in 2003, causing significant damage.

The statue was vandalized with graffiti, including being painted "racist fish" in 2020.

The statue's base was vandalized with Russian flag colors in 2023.

The statue was doused in red paint in 2017 to protest whale hunting.

The statue's base was vandalized with 'racist fish' during 2020 protests following George Floyd's death.

The statue was vandalized again in 2023 with the Russian flag painted on its base.

The Little Mermaid statue has been repeatedly vandalized, requiring numerous repairs and restorations.

The documents do not provide specific information about the conservation and restoration techniques used to repair the Little Mermaid statue after vandalism or damage.

The search results do not include information about those responsible or the story behind each incident.

The Little Mermaid statue is a 175kg bronze sculpture created by Edvard Eriksen, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.

The statue is a popular Copenhagen attraction based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.

The Danish police are investigating the vandalism and searching for the perpetrators.

The vandalism may be motivated by Denmark's criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine and other social issues.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been vandalized multiple times since 1913, including the theft of its head in 1964.

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
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Support at Patreon
On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
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For information cooperation, advertising and publication of ads, write to the address: [email protected]
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The statue's head was stolen in 1964 and again in 1998, but was later restored.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

In 1984, one of the statue's arms was cut off, adding to its damages.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
Advertisement
The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

The statue was blown off its base with explosives into the harbor in 2003, causing significant damage.

The statue was vandalized with graffiti, including being painted "racist fish" in 2020.

The statue's base was vandalized with Russian flag colors in 2023.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

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The statue was doused in red paint in 2017 to protest whale hunting.

The statue's base was vandalized with 'racist fish' during 2020 protests following George Floyd's death.

The statue was vandalized again in 2023 with the Russian flag painted on its base.

The Little Mermaid statue has been repeatedly vandalized, requiring numerous repairs and restorations.

The documents do not provide specific information about the conservation and restoration techniques used to repair the Little Mermaid statue after vandalism or damage.

The search results do not include information about those responsible or the story behind each incident.

The Little Mermaid statue is a 175kg bronze sculpture created by Edvard Eriksen, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale.

The statue is a popular Copenhagen attraction based on a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.

The Danish police are investigating the vandalism and searching for the perpetrators.

The vandalism may be motivated by Denmark's criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine and other social issues.


The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been vandalized multiple times since its installation in 1913, with the first reported incident being the theft of its head in 1964.

The statue's head was not recovered after it was stolen in 1964, but it was later restored after being stolen again in 1998.

In 1984, one of the statue's arms was cut off, adding to the list of damages the statue has sustained over the years.

The statue was blown off its base with explosives and fell into the harbor in 2003, causing significant damage.

The statue has been subject to graffiti and paint vandalism, including being painted with the words 'racist fish' in 2020.

The statue's base was painted with the colors of the Russian flag in an incident of vandalism in 2023, although the exact motivations behind this incident are unclear.

The statue was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting in 2017, further adding to the list of incidents.

The words 'racist fish' were painted on the base of the statue during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020.

The statue was vandalized again in 2023, with the Russian flag painted on the stone it sits on, continuing the trend of repeated intentional damages.

The repeated vandalism of the Little Mermaid statue has led to a history of repairs and restorations, with the statue being a popular target for protesters and vandals.

Unfortunately, the documents do not provide specific information about the conservation and restoration techniques used to repair the Little Mermaid statue after each incident of vandalism or damage.

The search results do not include any information about the individuals or groups responsible for the vandalism or the story behind each incident.

The Little Mermaid statue is a 175kg bronze sculpture created by Edvard Eriksen, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale.

The statue is a popular tourist attraction in Copenhagen and is based on a fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

The Danish police have launched an investigation into the vandalism and are searching for clues to identify the perpetrators.

The motivations behind the vandalism may be related to Denmark's criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as other social and political issues such as whale hunting and racism.

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen has been vandalized multiple times since its installation in 1913, with the first reported incident being the theft of its head in 1964.

Title:

Content: Danish police investigate who “spoiled ” the famous monument to the Little Mermaid with the colors of the Russian flag
03.03.2023, 7: 15, Misc
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On the pedestal of the famous statue of the Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, a Russian tricolor appeared, says The Guardian.
The Danish police have launched an investigation into such an “act of vandalism ”, which is perceived as a sign of support in the Ukrainian conflict.
AP
In Copenhagen, unknown people painted the foundation of the statue of the Mermaid in Copenhagen in the colors of the Russian flag, writes The Guardian.
According to the publication, the tricolor appeared on Thursday night on the stone, which serves as a pedestal for the famous Danish monument.
The police in Copenhagen said that law enforcement officers visited the crime scene and registered an “act of vandalism ”.
The police began an investigation and are trying to find “evidence ”.
The actions of unknown persons are perceived as a sign of support for the Kremlin in the Ukrainian conflict.
The article notes that the statue of the Little Mermaid weighing 175 kg was created by sculptor Edward Eriksen, who was inspired by the main character of the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
The monument suffered from vandals many times: in 1964 her head was stolen, in 1984 her hand was cut off, in 1998 her head was stolen again, but later returned, and in 2003 the statue was blown up.
In addition, the Little Mermaid has been painted or signed many times.
The last time it happened in 2020, when it appeared the mysterious inscription “Racist fish ”, writes The Guardian.
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The statue's head was not recovered after it was stolen in 1964, but it was later restored after being stolen again in 1998.

Title:

Content: Unknown people draw Russian flag on a statue of a mermaid in Copenhagen
COPENHAGEN (AFP) - The iconic Little Mermaid statue in the Danish capital Copenhagen was vandalized on Wednesday night as unidentified people painted the Russian flag on its base.
Announcement
An AFP correspondent reported that the Russian flag was painted under unknown circumstances on the stone above which a statue of the Little Mermaid, inspired by the heroine of one of the stories of the writer Hans Christian Andersen, was installed.
Danish police said they were launching an investigation into the incident, without giving any indication of the source of the move, which shows clear support for Russia amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP: "We are investigating the area in order to find any evidence."
A small number of tourists in the area took pictures of the statue in the port of Copenhagen, which was vandalized on Thursday morning.
The Little Mermaid statue on a largely unfrequented promenade has been targeted several times since it was installed in 1913.
In 1964, the head of the nymph was stolen for the first time without being recovered.
In 1998, a group of vandals cut off the head of the statue again, but it was later restored.
This monument was exposed to the explosion in 2003.
The statue, created by Danish sculptor Edvard Eriksen, has also been targeted several times with graffiti or graffiti, most recently in 2020 with the inscription “racist fish ”.

In 1984, one of the statue's arms was cut off, adding to the list of damages the statue has sustained over the years.

Title:

Content: Danish little mermaid like cornerstone painted Russian flag tricolor
A statue of the Little Mermaid, one of the most iconic tourist attractions in the Danish capital Copenhagen, was deliberately vandalized last night, and the cornerstone below the statue was painted with the white, blue and red colors of the Russian flag.
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The Little Mermaid comes from the famous fairy tale of Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen, where the stone beneath the bronze statue is painted in three colors of the Russian flag.
Copenhagen police told Agence France-Presse that since they arrived this morning, "a case of vandalism has been filed" and "local investigations have been launched to trace traces".
It is clear that this means supporting Moscow ’ s position in the Ukraine war.
Some tourists, puzzled by this, took pictures of the damaged statue this morning.
The 175-kilogram Little Mermaid is a work by sculptor Edvard Eriksen, inspired by the Danish poet and writer Hans Christian Andersen ’ s 1837 fairy tale of the same name.
The statue, which sits next to a relatively secluded waterfront walkway, has been vandalized several times over the years, including two burglaries of its head in 1964 and 1998, and a severed arm in 1984. In 2003, the statue was blown loose with explosives and fell into the bay.
It has also been graffitied and painted several times, most recently in 2020 with the words “racist fish. ”

The statue was blown off its base with explosives and fell into the harbor in 2003, causing significant damage.

The statue has been subject to graffiti and paint vandalism, including being painted with the words 'racist fish' in 2020.

The statue's base was painted with the colors of the Russian flag in an incident of vandalism in 2023, although the exact motivations behind this incident are unclear.

Title:

Content: Russian Flag Painted on Copenhagen's Most Famous Landmark

It's the latest in a long line of attacks on Little Mermaid statue
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 2, 2023 10:15 AM CST

The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, one of Denmark's most famous landmarks, has been vandalized yet again, this time with the Russian flag. Authorities said Thursday that the white, blue, and red stripes of the Russian flag were painted on the stone the statue sits on, Reuters reports. Police said the vandalism was discovered early Thursday. "We are of course launching an investigation to find out who did it and when and how it happened," a police spokesman said, per Jyllands-Posten.

Denmark, like other European nations, has strongly criticized Russia's war against Ukraine. The small statue, a tribute to the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, sits off a waterfront promenade in the Danish capital. It has been vandalized many times since it was installed 110 years ago, AFP reports. It has been decapitated twice and was knocked off its base with explosives in 2003. In 2017, it was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting. In 2020, during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd, the words "racist fish" were painted on the base, though Andersen scholars said they weren't aware of any racist elements in the fairy tale. (Read more The Little Mermaid stories.)

We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy.
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X

The statue was doused in red paint in a protest against whale hunting in 2017, further adding to the list of incidents.

The words 'racist fish' were painted on the base of the statue during worldwide protests after the death of George Floyd in 2020.

The statue was vandalized again in 2023, with the Russian flag painted on the stone it sits on, continuing the trend of repeated intentional damages.

The repeated vandalism of the Little Mermaid statue has led to a history of repairs and restorations, with the statue being a popular target for protesters and vandals.

Unfortunately, the documents do not provide specific information about the conservation and restoration techniques used to repair the Little Mermaid statue after each incident of vandalism or damage.

The search results do not include any information about the individuals or groups responsible for the vandalism or the story behind each incident.

The Little Mermaid statue is a 175kg bronze sculpture created by Edvard Eriksen, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's 1837 fairy tale.

The statue is a popular tourist attraction in Copenhagen and is based on a fairy tale by Danish author Hans Christian Andersen.

The Danish police have launched an investigation into the vandalism and are searching for clues to identify the perpetrators.

The motivations behind the vandalism may be related to Denmark's criticism of Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as other social and political issues such as whale hunting and racism.