The Hidden Journey of Venice’s Winged Lion

The Lion of Venice, one of the most recognizable symbols of the Italian city and a centerpiece of St. Mark’s Square, may have origins far from the Venetian Lagoon.

New research shows that the bronze used to cast the statue came from the Yangtze River basin in China, suggesting the sculpture may have once been a Tang Dynasty tomb guardian known as a “zhenmushou.”

Scholars believe it could have been acquired by Niccolò and Maffeo Polo, the father and uncle of Marco Polo, during their travels to the Mongol emperor Kublai Khan’s court in the 1260s.

Repurposed as a winged lion to align with Venice’s emblem, the statue was altered over centuries, including changes to its wings, ears, and even the removal of horns.

Its turbulent history continued when Napoleon took it to Paris after conquering Venice, only for it to return in pieces in 1815.