Detaljbild som visar galjonsfiguren av Linjeskepp Stockholm monterad på fartyget. Figuren framställer Erik den helige, Stockholm skyddshelgon. Foto är tagen underifrån och frontal framför skeppet förstäv.

The tradition of decorating the bow of a ship with a sculptural figure or relief has existed since ancient times. In ancient Rome the bow decoration was called rostra, in ancient Greece - caryatid. Spread over the bowsprit and pointing forward, it was a symbol of the ship, the pride of ship owners and captains. When the ship served its term, the figure was removed, and it decorated the walls of buildings, columns, the house of the owner or captain. Subsequently, the bow figures ended up in maritime museums.