The Lions of Venice

The Lion of Saint Mark on the Torre dell’Orologio in San Macro Piazza.

The image of the lion is everywhere in Venice; buildings, archways, St. Mark's standard, fluted columns, paintings, tapestries, frescoes, and sculptures. Lions, and their representation of power and strength, was so important to the Venetians that the nobility used to keep them captive in their gardens. Captive lions were forbidden after the official state lion that lived in a golden cage in the Piazza San Marco died, probably poisoned from licking the gilded bars of his cage.  

The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark
St. Mark and a Venetian Lion

St. Mark’s symbol, the winged lion, became Venice’s symbol at the same time that Mark became its patron saint in 828 A.D.  Circa 828 A.D., two Venetian merchant ship captains made a deal with local Christian authorities in Alexandria to take the supposed body of Saint Mark to safety; grave robbers by another name. They removed the corpse from its tomb, laid it in a wagon covered with pork to deter inspection of the contents thereby successfully smuggling it aboard their ship, bound for Venice. On October 8th, 1094, the body was laid to rest in the crypt under the Basilica di San Marco. Of course to further muddy the waters or in this case the pork barrel, it has been recently postulated that the mummified remains buried beneath the altar of St Mark's Basilica are in fact those of Alexander the Great.   

The Venetian lion normally has wings, often holds a book below its paw, and sometimes is completed by a halo around its head. These three elements (wings, book, halo) reveal it as a symbol of Saint Mark the Evangelist, patron saint of the city.  The Venetian lions can identify if Venice was at war or peace when the lion was placed in a location. If the book in his paw is open, Venice was at peace. When the book is closed or if it has a sword in its paws, Venice was at war.  In addition to a multitude of Venetian Lions in Venice, they are also numerous lions brought as war trophies from far off conquests or simply ornamental ones.

Modern version of the standard of St. Mark

The Arsenal of Venice (~1104) was a complex of shipyards, armories, and weapons shops built to serve the needs of the Venetian Navy.  It is acknowledged as one of the world’s first assembly production lines. Today it is a great place to view a variety of Lion sculptures, both Venetian as well as some looted lions. The Piraeus Lion is one of four lion statues on display at the Venetian Arsenal. The lion was originally sculpted in about 360 BC and became a famous landmark in Piraeus, Athens, before it was looted by Venetian naval commander Francesco Morosini in 1687.   The second lion standing at the right side of the entrance to the Arsenal is a Naxion Lion looted from Delos.  The body dates to the 6th century BC while the the head is said to have been added in the late 17th century. The Naxian Lion body was brought to Venice by Francesco Morosini (circa 1716).

Lions of the Arsenal

Venetian Lion with closed book above the main gate at the Arsenal

Piraeus Lion (circa 260 BC) from Piraeus Port approximately 12 km (7 miles) from Athens.

Naxian Lion (body portion) from Delos (circa 600 BC)
Head said to be added late 17th century (looks like may have been from a fountain)

For context, the original Remaining Naxian Lions in Archaeological Museum of Delos
Bodies are the same but definitely not the original head 

One of 2 (out of 8) unidentified Allegorical Statues at Arsenal Gate
Lion with captured lamb hiding behind the lady.

Other Lions

Doge Francesco Foscari kneeling before the Lion of St. Mark
 on the Porta della Carta (ceremonial doorway into the Doge's palace)

Venetian Lion on Monument to Victor Emmanuel II

Second Venetian Lion on Monument to Victor Emmanuel II

Bronze of a Venetian lion resting upon the base of the statue of Daniele Manin in Campo Manin.
Cast in 1875 by Luigi Borro.

Another Venetian Lion on the Doge's Palace

One of two Lion reliefs on Scuola Grande di San Marco 

Another beautiful bronze lion in Venice.  
(Not sure where but near San Macro Piazza)

Standard of St. Mark with Venetian lion finial. 
(The standard of St. Mark has six sestiere on the fly)

Other Venice Blogs

https://sandrawhiteway.blogspot.com/2022/04/the-floating-city-city-of-canals-or.html

https://sandrawhiteway.blogspot.com/2022/05/boats-of-venice.html

https://sandrawhiteway.blogspot.com/2022/05/venices-reference-points-churches-and.html

Venetian Lions Information

https://www.wheninvenice.com/the-venetian-lion-explained/

https://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/lions-venice

https://www.glassofvenice.com/blog/venice-and-the-lion-of-st-mark-history-mystery-and-glory/