subject: Winged Lions - The Symbol Of Venice [print this page] The Italian city of Venice is not only famous for its gondola rides and its romantic charm but also for its magnificent symbol, the winged lions. Prominently known as the symbol of St. Mark, these lions can be seen at every nook and corner of the city.
The winged lions became the symbol of the Venice as early as 828 A.D., when St. Mark became its patron saint. Since then, these lions have been an inevitable part of the city. However, the rise of the Venetian Republic made these lions more famous. They were carved on walls, included in doorknockers and installed as sculptures. By the fall of the republic in 1797, many of the lions were destroyed, but some still survive to tell the tale.
The story behind the winged lions of Venice is quite an interesting one. Legends have it that around the ninth century, two ambitious Venetian merchants stole the remains of St. Mark from Alexandria, Egypt. To escape the eyes of the Muslim guards, they cleverly covered the relics in pork meat as the guards' religion forbids them from touching it. But the real twist happened when the merchants were in the open sea. All of a sudden a huge storm arose and they were close to being drowned. It is said that St. Mark himself appeared to the captain and told him to strike the sails. Thus, the ship was saved and this miracle eventually made the Venetians choose St. Mark, the Apostle as their patron saint and his traditional symbol, the winged lion as the symbol of Venice.
One of the most important features of the winged lions of Venice is the book they hold. It is said that if the books are open, Venice was at peace, else it was at war. The opened book usually contains the verses "Pax Tibi Marce Evangelista Meus"- Peace to you Mark, my Evangelist. These lions are usually seen around most of the prominent Venice tourist attractions. In fact, counting the lions is regarded to be an interesting activity amongst tourists who travel to the city.
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