The Lion of Piraeus
Click... It stands there. Majestic.
Observing everything.
Watching time pass and the evolution of its city.
It "poses" and gets photographed... Becomes a post on social media.
The lion of Piraeus. It rises at the end of Xaveriou Coast, overlooking the central harbor.
As it happened with many of our treasures, the original statue that stood for centuries in the most prominent position of the port was stolen. It was Venetian Morosini who took it with him in 1687.
However, a faithful replica was placed in its position to remind us that this was the reason the Latins named Piraeus "Porto Leone."
Information…
Archaeologists have not reached a definitive conclusion regarding the construction date of the original lion. Nevertheless, it is similar to the trophy erected by the Macedonians in Cheronia. Runic symbols can be distinguished on the statue, believed to have been engraved by Varangian mercenaries (Scandinavians) who traveled here in 1018 with the retinue of Byzantine Emperor Basil II Bulgaroktonos.
Location
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