Lion of Amphipolis · 4 pics

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This short post is dedicated to a little-known sculpture called the Lion of Amphipolis which is often overlooked by tourists traveling in Northern Greece (for example, when they drive along the Egnatia Odos highway towards Turkey). The fact is that this archaeological and historical landmark is located away from the main roads. It is for this reason that I want to mark it on the map of my favorite map service Pinmapple.

At the beginning of the 20th century, on the west bank of the Struma river archaeologists excavated, as a result of which part of the head of a marble lion was discovered. Subsequently, during the work on draining the river, huge pieces of marble were also found which are parts of the lion sculpture. Archaeologists were able to match these parts, and in 1936 the lion sculpture was restored, assembled and installed.

According to one theory, the lion sculpture is installed on top of the burial site, where the military commander Laomedon of Mytilene, a close friend of Alexander the Great, was most likely buried. According to the Greek historian and archaeologist Dimitris Lazaridis, the Amphipolis Lion was built just in honor of Laomedon, as a symbol of military valor and courage.

The height of the sculpture together with the pedestal is more than eight meters, without the pedestal about five and a half meters. It is noteworthy that the lion has no tongue — it is believed that in this way the Amphipolis Lion keeps the secret of the burial.

Read more: Amphipolis Lion History and Rare Photographs of the Amphipolis Lion.