Decoration

The exterior of the Eremitage Hunting Lodge is a journey into Greek mythology. The rich exterior decoration consisting of mythological figures is naturally associated with hunting and the woods.

Daphne and Apollo

The western façade has two side ressauts (protruding façade parts) crowned by semicircular frontons. On the northern fronton lie (from left) the nymph Daphne and Apollo, god of light, protector of the arts, god of wisdom, thought, reasoning and personality. He is carrying a bow symbolising his fight for positive powers.

Cupid had shot two arrows. Daphne was struck by one: the arrow that produces resistance to love; Apollo was struck by the other: the arrow that produces love. Apollo fell in love with Daphne, who ran away from him. When he approached her, she beseeched the gods for help. They turned her into a laurel tree, and the figure shows how her hair and fingers have turned into leaves.

Pan and Actaeon

On the southern fronton lie Pan, the woodland deity, and Actaeon, the huntsman. Pan, the protector of shepherds and flocks, has the horns, legs and tail of a goat. He chased the nymph Syrinx, but when he reached her, she was changed into a reed. Pan crafted a flute from the reed and named it after the nymph. Actaeon the huntsman chanced upon the naked Artemis, goddess of the hunt, when she was bathing, and she turned him into a stag. The figure shows this transformation.

Artemis and Meleagros

In the niches stand Artemis and Meleagros, the huntsman (Diana and Meleager in Roman mythology). Artemis is the goddess of the hunt, nature and animals. Meleagros’ father, Oineus, the king of Kalydon, had made a sacrifice to the gods, but had forgotten her. As a punishment she set a fearful boar on his kingdom. It ravaged the country until Meleagros killed it. He is depicted with the boar to his left and a dog to his right. Artemis is often depicted with a hind at her side the way she is here. All the figures were created by the sculptor Andreas Nindel.

Above the balcony door is a relief of the castle's owner, Christian VI, and the fronton panels show the mirrored monograms of Christian VI and Sophie Magdalene. All this was executed by the sculptor Diderik Gercken. On the somewhat plainer eastern façade, the balustrade carries two figures, Summer and Winter, executed by C.R. Smith during the restoration in 1885-86.