Vasa’s Stern Carvings
2018 © Maxim Tabachnik
Gunport Hatch
Stern Sculptures of the VasaStern of the Vasa WarshipVasa’s Stern Carvings
Gun Deck of the VasaUpper Deck of VasaOrnate Panel from the Vasa WarshipRoman Soldier Figurehead on VasaReclining Figures on the Vasa WarshipCrowned Lions and Royal BustDavid with Harp and Moorish WarriorGrotesques and Soldiers on the VasaRoyal Coat of Arms on the VasaStern Ornament with CherubsGrotesque Carvings Beneath the SternFigurehead Supports from the VasaModel of the VasaThe Vasa Warship

Vasa’s Stern Carvings

567
The stern of the warship Vasa (1628) rises in stacked galleries crowded with carved warriors, lions, and allegorical figures. Their intertwined bodies proclaim royal authority, divine sanction, and naval strength. Intended as a floating manifesto of Sweden’s ambitions under Gustavus Adolphus, the vessel’s immediate sinking turned this ornate display into a preserved warning about the risks of political and technical excess.