The Vasa Museum, first opened in
1990, is one of the most visited museums in Scandinavia. Located on the island
of Djurgården in Stockholm, the museum displays a Swedish ship that was
salvaged from the bottom of the Stockholm Harbor after 333 years of sinking
deeper into the mud and sand. On August 10, 1628, the Vasa set sail on its
maiden voyage and unfortunately sank after it filled with water less than a
mile out to sea. Most of the bronze cannons were retrieved during this time,
but the location of the ship remained unknown until it was discovered in a busy
shipping lane just outside the Stockholm Harbor. The ship was recovered in more
or less one big piece thanks to the polluted water that was low in oxygen, as
wood-attacking fungi and bacteria couldn’t survive in such conditions. After
the Vasa was salvaged from the water, archaeologists spent 17 years restoring
and preserving the ship, then an additional 9 years waiting for all of the
water to evaporate out of the wood. During this time, one million pounds of
water evaporated away, leaving 200,000 pounds of oak. After the long process of
restoration was complete, the museum proudly features the Vasa, with 98% of the
original ship still intact.
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Figure 1: Vasa ship inside museum |
The Vasa can be seen from four
different levels, each one offering different views of the ship as well as focused
exhibits on the design, people, and special features of the ship. The entrance
level takes visitors to a mid-level view of the ship where the top half is
visible. The gray museum walls enclose the Vasa quite snugly, which makes the
226-foot long ship look even larger.
In addition to the numerous interactive
exhibits, there is great dedication to showcasing the care that went into
crafting the Vasa in the early 17th century. Majority of the ship’s
hull (the main body), is covered in sculptures of Greek and Roman figures, as
well as some remarkable creatures including mermaids, sea monsters, and lions.
Many of the 500 total sculptures are featured in exhibits with their symbolism
and significance, as the sculptures were designed to glorify Sweden’s
authority, wisdom, and martial abilities while also taunting and intimidating
the enemy.
Lions are a prominent recurring
theme as King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden was called “The Lion of the North”
and “The Golden King.” Two lions can be seen grasping the Swedish royal coat of
arms on either side of the boat, as well as on the figurehead and on the inside
of every gun port door. One statue in particular is of a soldier with a shield
in one hand, and the other fist proudly in the air (Figure 2). A puppy curves around the base
of the soldier’s legs to convey the idea that a ferocious lion would take pity
on a puppy, just as the powerful King Gustavus Adolphus would take pity on a significantly
weaker opponent. This sculpture illustrates that the king’s enemies are often
so inferior, that they are not even worth battling. Almost all of the heroic
imagery on the Vasa, including the fierce lions, are identified with the king
to revere him as a powerful ruler.
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Figure 2: Soldier and puppy sculpture |
A 10-foot long lion is also
placed as the figurehead of the Vasa, which is a wooden carving set at the prow
of a ship. The lion’s body is stretched upward and looks as if it is mid-leap. The
Vasa’s lion figurehead was so large, it was carved in several parts and fitted
together with bolts. Figureheads are often related to the name or role of the
ship, and are also believed to ward off evil spirits. Vasa’s lion figurehead
holds the Vasa dynasty coat of arms in its front paws, as the lion has been a
symbol of the Swedish monarchy since the Middle Ages. In addition, the museum
has placed a replica of the figurehead in an exhibit so visitors can get a
closer look at the details. This changes the perspective of onlookers, as a
10-foot lion on a 226-foot long ship seems quite proportional, but seeing this
wooden lion on its own really confirms the magnitude of both the lion and the
ship.
Face to Face is an exhibit that is
focused on some of the 145 sailors and 300 soldiers that sailed on the Vasa.
This section offers powerful yet eerie replicas of Vasa’s passengers through 3D
rendering using information from skeletons found on or around the ship. A short
animation shows how archaeologists made conclusions about eye color, mouth
shape, as well as muscle and fat composition based on a person’s skull. The animation
first showed a skull, then progressively added more and more pieces of the face,
layer by layer, until it was painted and completed with a head of hair. Each
head came with a short description that included age range, signs of
malnourishment, and their gender. This exhibit is particularly overwhelming,
both because of the realistic heads, and because it encourages visitors to contemplate
each and every one of the lives on that ship and the 50 or so that tragically
died.
The Vasa
Museum offers a close-up look of the ship’s design, as well as the people and
artifacts that also give great insight into what life was like in 17th-century
Sweden. With interactive exhibits, life-size replicas of specific rooms in the
Vasa, and descriptions translated into almost 10 languages, the museum invites
people of all ages from around the world to learn about the 17th
century ship. The museum has also worked to modernize the exhibits by including
“Selfie Spots,” where the lighting and framing of the Vasa was specially
composed, that many people made good use of (including myself). A visit to the
Vasa museum is emotionally heavy and highly educational, while also conveying
the significance of the Vasa, which has become a symbol of an important period
in Swedish history.