Mermaids, dragons and other European landmarks

The most-photographed landmark in Denmark is the Little Mermaid, from the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale of the same name. It was created in 1913 by sculptor Edvard Eriksen. The face resembles that of dancer Ellen Price, who played the role of the Little Mermaid in a theater production at the time. The sculptor's wife served as the model for the statue's body.

The Manneken Pis is much older, but just as famous. It dates back to 1619, but because of various thefts, today only a copy of the 61-centimeter bronze statue is on show in the Belgian capital. Since 1698 the "little pisser" has been dressed up on memorial days and birthdays. There are around 850 different outfits, including Elvis Presley and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart costumes, that have been used.

The unlikely Bremen musicians feature in a Brothers Grimm folk tale about a rooster, cat, dog and donkey that run away to pursue their music. The statue, erected next to Bremen's City Hall in 1951, contains an element of social criticism: The animals represent the servants during the 19th century that were chased out of court when they got too old.

Many landmarks are based on the myths explaining how cities or countries were founded, and the lindworm of Klagenfurt is no exception. According to the legend, the dragon-like creature lived in the swamps surrounding the town, feeding on people who came too close. One day the citizens lured the lindworm from the swamp, using an ox as bait. Then they chained him to the tower and slew him.

According to legend, the brothers Romulus and Remus founded the city of Rome. The twins were conceived when their mother Rhea Silvia was raped by the war god Mars, and were raised by a she-wolf. But there is no happy end to this story. The brothers quarreled, Romulus killed Remus, and that's why today's Italian capital is called Rome rather than Rem.

Martin Luther, represented in this statue in Wittenberg, is known for his struggle to reform the Roman Catholic Church in the early modern period of German history. His efforts led to a split in the Church and the emergence of Protestant denominations. Luther translated the Bible from Latin into German and, in doing so, opened the Church to commoners.

Even today, new landmarks are regularly being built. In 2010, the world's tallest Christ statue was erected in Świebodzin, Poland. It is two meters taller than the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro. Whether Jesus gave the order for it to be built, as a local priest claims, is open to speculation. But the fact remains: Nowhere else in the world is there a larger symbol of the Catholic faith.

The nine-meter tall Imperia satirically commemorates the Council of Constance (1414-1418), where the separation of the Roman and French churches was repealed. The scantily-clad courtesan, erected just 20 years ago, holds the Emperor and the Pope quite literally in her hands. Historical background: During the four-year council, several prostitutes offered their services to the delegates.

This monument to Cherusci war chief Hermann was erected near Detmold in central Germany in the 19th century. "Hermann plays an important role in Germany's national self-discovery because he conquered the Romans in the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest in the 9th century," explained art historian Monika Flacke from the German Historical Museum in Berlin.

Since 2006 there's been a much larger "genetically modified" mermaid sitting on a stone about 400 meters from the original statue in Copenhagen Harbor. The nine-meter sculpture by Bjørn Nørgaard, with its deformed body, is meant to offer a humorous and provocative look at post-modern society. Will this mermaid wish her older sister a happy birthday?