Piraeus Lion
| Piraeus Lion | |
|---|---|
| Italian: Leone del Pireo | |
The Piraeus Lion at the Venetian Arsenal. | |
| Artist | Unknown |
| Year | c. 360 BCE |
| Medium | Marble |
| Dimensions | 3 m (9 ft) |
| Location | Venice, Italy |
| 45°26′05″N 12°20′59″E / 45.43479°N 12.34983°E | |
The Piraeus Lion (Italian: Leone del Pireo) is one of four lion statues on display at the Venetian Arsenal, Italy, where it was displayed as a symbol of Venice's patron saint, Saint Mark. The statue is made of white marble and stands some 3 m (9 ft.) high. It is particularly noteworthy for two lengthy runic inscriptions on its shoulders and flanks; these were likely carved by Scandinavians sometime in the 11th century AD.