The Lions of Venice
I’m not quite sure how a lion became associated with St Mark, though somehow it’s related to the evangelist’s description of John the Baptist. The symbolism originated with Irenaeus of the Lyon around 180 AD when he created the tetramorph depicting the four evangelists: Luke as an ox, John as eagle, Matthew as a man and Mark as a lion.
Then, of course, is the story of how St Mark became the patron saint of Venice, starting with the stealing of his body by two Venetian merchants from a Coptic church in Egypt in 828, hiding the body under pork as the area was then under Islamic rule and they reasoned the pork would not be searched. Considering St Mark died in 68 AD, it’s impressive there was anything left to steal.
With St Mark now safely secured as her patron, the lion rapidly came to symbolise Venice. Lions are depicted not only throughout the city, but in places which were once part of her empire. Those lions lacking wings are usually much older in origin then the city herself (which traditionally came into being at noon on Friday March 25th, 421 AD. Unlike most places in Italy, there was no pre-existing Roman settlement in the marshes which became Venice.)
I love this lion down by the Arsenal (once the powerhouse behind the Venetian supremacy of the Mediterranean). Although weathered by time, he still looks surprised at finding himself in Venice.
The most classical representation of St Mark is when the winged lion has his paws resting upon upon a tome – although as some of the above photos show, classical statues were readily appropriated as the extent of Venice’s trade and Empire grew. It is said that is the book os open, the city was at peace when the statue was made; if closed, Venice was at war. Considering her history, it’s remarkable how rarely the book is closed.
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