Piraeus Lion
The Piraeus Lion stands three meters tall in the Venetian Arsenal today, yet its story begins nearly two millennia earlier. Ancient sculptors carved this white marble statue around 360 BC to guard the harbor of Athens. For centuries it sat at the entrance to the port known as Piraeus, serving as a fountain with water flowing from its hollow throat into a cistern below. Travelers visiting the city during the first or second century AD would have seen the lion as a famous landmark. The port itself eventually adopted the name Lion Port because the statue was so prominent that locals stopped using its original designation. A pipe once ran down the back of the creature before disappearing over time.
Francesco Morosini removed the marble lion from Greece during the Great Turkish War in 1687. This naval commander led Venetian forces against the Ottoman Empire when they captured Athens and damaged the Parthenon with their cannons. Morosini took the statue as plunder to display at the Venetian Arsenal where it now serves as a symbol of Saint Mark. The removal happened while the Venetians were actively sacking the city after their military victory. Copies of the original artifact can be found today at the Piraeus Archaeological Museum and the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm due to weathering damage on the main piece.
Two lengthy runic inscriptions carved by Scandinavians appear on the shoulders and flanks of the lion. These markings likely date to the second half of the 11th century when Vikings traveled through Europe. Swedish diplomat Johan David Åkerblad identified them as runes at the end of the 18th century after centuries of obscurity. The carvings form an elaborate lindworm dragon-headed scroll similar to styles seen on runestones back home in Scandinavia. Weathering has eroded many individual runes making them barely legible for modern observers trying to read the text.
Scholars have produced conflicting translations regarding whether the runes commemorate a battle or honor specific Varangian mercenaries. Carl Christian Rafn published his early attempt in 1854 claiming the Swedes cut these runes with Asgeir and Thorleif at Harold's request. Erik Brate offered what is considered the most successful interpretation in 1914 suggesting warriors honored Horsi while traveling through Greece. Some researchers tried to trace Harald Hardrada's name on the inscription but the carving time does not coincide with his service period under the emperor. Translators must reconstruct missing letters to determine what words were originally represented despite heavy erosion.
Copies of the original artifact are now housed in museums across Sweden, Italy, and Greece due to weathering damage. The main statue remains exposed to the elements in Venice where it continues to lose detail over time. Heavy erosion means many individual runes are barely legible requiring experts to fill in blanks when attempting reconstruction. The Swedish History Museum in Stockholm holds one replica while the Piraeus Archaeological Museum displays another version near Athens. These copies preserve the visual form even as the actual marble surface degrades further each year.
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Common questions
Where is the Piraeus Lion located today?
The Piraeus Lion stands three meters tall in the Venetian Arsenal today. The main statue remains exposed to the elements in Venice where it continues to lose detail over time.
When was the Piraeus Lion carved and what was its original purpose?
Ancient sculptors carved this white marble statue around 360 BC to guard the harbor of Athens. For centuries it sat at the entrance to the port known as Piraeus, serving as a fountain with water flowing from its hollow throat into a cistern below.
Who removed the Piraeus Lion from Greece and when did this event occur?
Francesco Morosini removed the marble lion from Greece during the Great Turkish War in 1687. This naval commander led Venetian forces against the Ottoman Empire when they captured Athens and damaged the Parthenon with their cannons.
What do the runic inscriptions on the Piraeus Lion say about Scandinavian visitors?
Two lengthy runic inscriptions carved by Scandinavians appear on the shoulders and flanks of the lion. These markings likely date to the second half of the 11th century when Vikings traveled through Europe.
Where are copies of the Piraeus Lion located today due to weathering damage?
Copies of the original artifact can be found today at the Piraeus Archaeological Museum and the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm due to weathering damage on the main piece. The Swedish History Museum in Stockholm holds one replica while the Piraeus Archaeological Museum displays another version near Athens.