US EditionVenice's Famous Winged Lion Statue Is Actually Chinese, Scientists Say
Researchers used lead isotope analysis to trace the statue's copper to China's Yangtze River basin, suggesting the Lion was crafted during the Tang Dynasty between 618 and 907 AD.
- A study published in Antiquity by researchers affiliated with northern Italian institutions, including Ca' Foscari University of Venice, revealed that the Winged Lion statue in Venice was crafted using copper originating from the Yangtze River region in China.
- The conclusion follows lead isotope analysis revealing the bronze's copper originated in China's Yangtze River basin and matches Tang dynasty styles.
- The bronze lion, a symbol associated with St. Mark, was brought to Venice in the 13th century—likely transported by Marco Polo's father and uncle during their travels between 1264 and 1268—and subsequently altered to fit local symbolism.
- Dr Massimo Vidale suggested that the iconic Lion symbolizing St Mark actually originated from China and traveled along the Silk Road, highlighting the interconnectedness of medieval civilizations.
- This finding resolves long debates about the sculpture's origin and suggests Venice's emblem symbolizes both religious identity and medieval cultural exchange.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Koco News5
Venice's famous winged lion statue is actually Chinese, scientists say
Researchers reveal Venice’s iconic lion in St Mark’s Square may have been crafted in China during the Tang Dynasty, reshaping its history.
The origins of the winged lion of Venice have been a mystery for centuries, but Italian archaeologists say they have finally solved the mystery. The researchers say the lion was made in China.
Scientists argue that Venice’s famous winged lion was made in China
Venice is a city full of mystery and exotic treasures. A new study now shows how even its most famous winged lion was actually imported from China, most likely by the uncle and father of Marc O’Polo. Although it might not necessarily be Venice’s most time-consuming sight, the winged lion perched atop a column on the Piazzetta San Marco next to Saint Mark’s Basilica has certainly become a symbol of the Italian city. The animal, a holy emblem of V…
In the heart of Venice, the imposing winged lion that crowns one of the columns of Piazza San Marco has for centuries been much more than a sculpture: it is the universal symbol of the city and its ancient mercantile power. An international study has left historians, curious and Venetians blubbered by demonstrating that this emblem is not Venetian, nor Italian, nor even European. The famous Lion of San Marcos was born in distant China, more than…
The pillar on which the lion stands originates from Anatolia (present-day Turkey), while the statue itself has been repaired several times over the centuries.
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