University of Wisconsin–Madison

Denmark: Zonghao Zou (Learning on Excursions)

A large sculpture of the head of Vølva the Viking sorceress. The head is a large white sculpture of a head. There is no definition in the eyes, and there are flowers in front of her mouth.
The Viking Sorceress Exhibition

Today, as part of the Copenhagen Past and Present pre-semester class, I went on a field trip to the Danish National Museum and took a boat tour through Copenhagen’s harbor.

The National Museum, one of Denmark’s oldest, traces its roots to the Museum Wormianum: a 17th-century private collection of the physician Ole Worm. Today, it houses various artifacts on culture and history of Denmark and other countries.

A view from the water of a canal. There are boats on either side, speed boats and sailboats. In the distance is a large building stretching over the water.
Christainshavn

One special exhibition we visited was The Viking Sorceress, an exploration of the vølva: a Viking sorceress believed to foresee the future, perform rituals, and commune with spirits. Rather than a traditional archaeological display, the exhibit used light, sound, and storytelling to evoke a mystical atmosphere. I was surprised to learn that some vølva burials date from after Denmark’s Christianization. This reminded me of our recent lectures about how the transition from Norse paganism to Christianity was gradual and layered in Denmark. The burial we saw, containing both a cross and Thor’s hammer, symbolized that overlap of beliefs.

A view from the water of the opera house. It is a rectangular building with a square on top in the center. The side that faces the water is all rounded glass windows while the rest is stone and rectangular.
The Royal Opera House

After the museum, we took a boat ride through Copenhagen’s harbor and into its winding canals. The canals of Christianshavn were especially beautiful, lined with boats and residential buildings. I recalled from our lectures that Christianshavn was reclaimed from the sea by King Christian IV as part of his vision to create a “Danish Amsterdam”, a center of trade and shipbuilding during the age of exploration.

A view from the water of part of the town. There is an area with stairs where individuals are sitting and sunbathing, and in the background a brown, old-looking building with a pointed roof that is the library.
The Royal Library

As we drifted past bridges and spires and back into the open harbor, I was struck by how Copenhagen blends old and new. The sleek Royal Opera House faces the 17th-century brick buildings of Christianshavn. Nearby, the Royal Library’s modern extension (the “Black Diamond”) connects elegantly to the historic library behind it. Much like Denmark’s history and its transition from paganism, the city’s architecture reveals a continuity of history.

A photo of Zou, a male student, from the shoulders up. Zou looks at the camera from a side angle. He has dark brown, short, straight hair and wears a white shirt. The background are trees.

Zonghao, Zou

Hometown: Brookline, Massachusetts

Major: Mathematics; Computer Science

Program: University of Copenhagen Exchange

Since English is used in fewer of the undergraduate classes here, studying at University of Copenhagen will give me an opportunity to try taking grad level courses and studying grad topics. Also being at a different school can allow me to study niche topics that might not be available at UW-Madison.

Blog posts coming soon!