183:
22:
191:
115:("Lion Port") as the port's original name ceased to be used. It is depicted in a sitting pose, with a hollow throat and the mark of a pipe (now lost) running down its back; this suggests that it was at some point used as a fountain. This is consistent with the description of the statue from the 1670s, which said that water flowed from the lion's mouth into a cistern at its feet.
210:, the Secretary of the Kongelige Nordiske Oldskrift-Selskab (Royal Society of Nordic Antiquaries). The inscriptions are heavily eroded due to weathering, making many of the individual runes barely legible. This has required translators to reconstruct some of the runes, filling in the blanks to determine what words they represented.
167:
377:
Hakon with Ulf and Asmund and Örn conquered this port. These men and Harold Hafi imposed a heavy fine on account of the revolt of the Greek people. Dalk is detained captive in far lands. Egil is gone on an expedition with Ragnar into
108:
The lion was originally sculpted in about 360 BC, and became a famous landmark in
Piraeus, Athens, having stood there since the 1st or 2nd century AD. Its prominence was such that the port eventually became referred to in Italian as
213:
There have been several attempts to decipher and translate the text. Below follow Rafn's early attempt (1854) and Eric Brate's attempt (1914), which is considered to be the most successful one.
924:
182:
271:
Asmund cut these runes with Asgeir and
Thorleif, Thord and Ivar, at the request of Harold the Tall, though the Greeks considered about and forbade it.
1048:
1018:
1003:
998:
963:
815:
973:
1033:
993:
968:
588:
397:'s name on the inscription, but the time it was carved does not coincide with his time in the service of the emperor.
914:
870:
800:
708:
649:
61:
inscriptions on its shoulders and flanks; these were likely carved by
Scandinavians sometime in the 11th century AD.
206:(a flightless dragon with serpentine body and two or no legs) and were first translated in the mid-19th century by
1038:
757:
865:
Cambridge, Mass.: Distributed by
Harvard University Press for the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute. p. 348.
1008:
94:
86:
221:
Rafn's attempt is as follows, with the legible letters shown in bold and the reconstructed ones unbolded:
1013:
186:
Photo of inscription on right flank of lion (with contrast exaggerated to make inscription more visible).
894:
Rafn, Carl
Christian (1856). "Inscription runique du Pirée - Runeindskrift i Piraeeus", Impr. de Thiele
988:
93:
that was matched only by his subsequent sack of the city. Copies of the statue can also be seen at the
1043:
1028:
983:
615:
Andrea C. Snow, "Transmuted: Reconciling the
Medieval Scandinavian Marking of the Piraeus Lion."
199:
593:
98:
21:
1023:
573:
57:
and stands some 3 m (9 ft.) high. It is particularly noteworthy for two lengthy
8:
978:
832:
207:
812:
610:
Nordisk
Tidskrift för vetenskap konst och industri, utgiven av Letterstedtska Föreningen
677:
605:
119:
74:
910:
866:
796:
761:
704:
645:
578:
155:
78:
838:
Antiquarisk
Tidsskrift: Udgivet af det Kongelige Nordiske Oldskrift-Selskab 1855-57
583:
379:
46:
34:
740:
905:
858:
836:
819:
791:
721:
695:
640:
394:
90:
158:, or Vikings who travelled from Scandinavia around Europe’s Atlantic coastline.
786:
726:
635:
143:
82:
58:
957:
939:
926:
765:
122:
were carved onto the lion. The runes are carved in the shape of an elaborate
748:
142:'s translation of the runes, they state they were carved by "suiar", or the
835:(1857). "En Nordisk Runeindskrift i Piræus, med Forklaring af C. C. Rafn".
202:
identified them at the end of the 18th century. They are in the shape of a
408:'s interpretation from 1914 is considered to be the most successful one.
198:
The inscriptions were not recognised as runes until the
Swedish diplomat
135:
881:
A. Craig Gibson, "Runic
Inscriptions: Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian", in
405:
175:
151:
139:
50:
681:
178:, mercenaries in the service of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Emperor.
49:, Italy, where it was displayed as a symbol of Venice's patron saint,
700:
190:
131:
102:
660:
Encyclopædia Britannica, Athens, The Acropolis, p.6/20, 2008, O.Ed.
542:
203:
171:
123:
383:
147:
70:
166:
883:
Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire
127:
54:
811:"The Book of THoTH (Leaves of Wisdom) — Dragon" (notes), URL:
669:
Cornelius Vermeule, "Greek Funerary Animals, 450-300 B. C.",
73:
harbour of Athens. It was looted by Venetian naval commander
885:, p. 130. Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 1902
42:
696:
Athens, Attica and the Megarid: An Archaeological Guide
150:who carved the runes on the lion could have been
25:Ancient Greek lion statue at the Arsenal, Venice.
955:
722:The British Museum. Elgin and Phigaleian Marbles
161:
303:RN : HAFN : ÞESA : ÞIR : M
854:
852:
850:
848:
741:"Evliya Celebi och Marmorlejonet från Pireus"
353:I : LAÞUM : EGIL : VAR :
110:
118:In the second half of the 11th century, two
400:
845:
1049:Collection of the Swedish History Museum
237:RLIFR : ÞURÞR : AUK : IVA
189:
181:
174:. The runes on the lion tell of Swedish
165:
20:
805:
738:
233:NAR : ÞISAR : ÞAIR : ISK
956:
795:. Courier Dover Publications. p. 176.
644:. Courier Dover Publications. p. 176.
507:runes by the sea in memory of Horsi, a
1019:Byzantine Empire-related inscriptions
504:forces. But in the harbor the men cut
501:They cut him down in the midst of his
216:
831:
154:, mercenaries in the service of the
825:
527:hewed them in an ornamental scroll.
516:He went his way with good counsel,
13:
1004:Hellenistic-style Roman sculptures
589:Runic inscriptions in Hagia Sophia
14:
1060:
999:Monuments and memorials in Venice
538:had them well cut, they who lived
156:Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Emperor
513:The Swedes set this on the lion.
77:in 1687 as plunder taken in the
964:4th-century BC Greek sculptures
897:
888:
875:
758:Swedish National Heritage Board
693:Goette, Hans Rupprecht (2001),
671:American Journal of Archaeology
170:Piraeus Lion drawing of curved
130:, in much the same style as on
974:Greek artifacts outside Greece
780:
732:
713:
687:
663:
654:
629:
339:IAÞIÞS : VARÞ : DALK
323:I : UF IABUTA : UPRA
89:and Morosini's cannons caused
53:. The statue is made of white
1:
623:
599:
551:Ulfʀ (Úlfr) and colored them
162:Inscriptions and translations
95:Piraeus Archaeological Museum
85:, during which the Venetians
69:It was originally located in
1034:Sculptures of lions in Italy
994:Outdoor sculptures in Venice
7:
567:
557:He won gold in his travels.
519:gold he won in his travels.
194:Drawings of the inscription
10:
1065:
619:53, no. 2 (2022): 179–214.
608:, "Pireuslejonets runor",
427:eoku runar at haursa bunta
422:hna en i hafn þesi þir min
64:
45:statues on display at the
969:11th-century inscriptions
940:45.4347833°N 12.3498167°E
676::1:49-59 (January 1972),
417:hiuku þir hilfninks milum
393:Some have tried to trace
229:ASMUDR : HJU :
792:A History of the Vikings
739:Jarring, Gunnar (1978).
641:A History of the Vikings
401:Erik Brate's translation
224:Right side of the lion:
524:The warriors cut runes,
442:fur raþum kul uan farin
278:Left side of the lion:
91:damage to the Parthenon
1039:Graffiti (archaeology)
945:45.4347833; 12.3498167
594:Chinese guardian lions
478:a sun iuk runar þisar.
450:tri(n)kiar ristu runar
349:ÞUGR : I : F
263:ÞU : AUK : B
195:
187:
179:
111:
99:Swedish History Museum
38:
26:
16:Greek statue in Venice
1009:Sculptures in Piraeus
818:25 March 2008 at the
719:Ellis, Henry (1833).
530:Æskell (Áskell) and
193:
185:
169:
24:
833:Rafn, Carl Christian
437:riþu suiar þita linu
371:. . . . AUK : A
363:R : TIL :
357: : FARU :
311:ÞU : A : U
287: : ULFR :
283:HAKUN : VAN: ÞI
200:Johan David Åkerblad
936: /
909:Osprey Publishing.
903:Heath, Ian (1985).
863:The Origin of Rus'.
787:Kendrick, Thomas D.
636:Kendrick, Thomas D.
612:. Stockholm (1984).
554:in memory of Horsi.
533:Þorlæifʀ (Þorleifr)
239:R : AT :
208:Carl Christian Rafn
1014:History of Piraeus
606:Sven B. F. Jansson
574:Berezan' Runestone
217:Rafn's translation
196:
188:
180:
120:runic inscriptions
75:Francesco Morosini
27:
989:Culture in Venice
579:Greece Runestones
565:
564:
235:IR : AUK: ÞU
79:Great Turkish War
41:) is one of four
1056:
1044:Venetian Arsenal
951:
950:
948:
947:
946:
941:
937:
934:
933:
932:
929:
917:
901:
895:
892:
886:
879:
873:
859:Pritsak, Omeljan
856:
843:
842:
841:. pp. 3–69.
829:
823:
809:
803:
784:
778:
776:
774:
772:
745:
736:
730:
717:
711:
691:
685:
667:
661:
658:
652:
633:
584:Italy Runestones
548:cut these runes.
411:
410:
253:ÞUAT : GRIK
114:
47:Venetian Arsenal
1064:
1063:
1059:
1058:
1057:
1055:
1054:
1053:
1029:Medieval Athens
984:Varangian Guard
954:
953:
944:
942:
938:
935:
930:
927:
925:
923:
922:
920:
902:
898:
893:
889:
880:
876:
857:
846:
830:
826:
820:Wayback Machine
810:
806:
785:
781:
770:
768:
743:
737:
733:
718:
714:
692:
688:
668:
664:
659:
655:
634:
630:
626:
602:
570:
403:
395:Harald Hardrada
219:
164:
138:. According to
87:captured Athens
67:
39:Leone del Pireo
17:
12:
11:
5:
1062:
1052:
1051:
1046:
1041:
1036:
1031:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1011:
1006:
1001:
996:
991:
986:
981:
976:
971:
966:
919:
918:
896:
887:
874:
844:
824:
804:
779:
731:
727:British Museum
712:
686:
662:
653:
627:
625:
622:
621:
620:
613:
601:
598:
597:
596:
591:
586:
581:
576:
569:
566:
563:
562:
560:
559:
558:
555:
552:
549:
546:
539:
536:
535:
534:
528:
525:
522:
521:
520:
514:
511:
508:
505:
502:
497:
496:
495:
490:
485:
483:ufr uk - li st
480:
475:
473:roþrslanti b -
470:
465:
462:
460:þair isk rlifr
457:
452:
447:
444:
439:
434:
429:
424:
419:
402:
399:
391:
390:
389:
388:
373:RMENIU :
276:
275:
274:
273:
218:
215:
163:
160:
126:dragon-headed
83:Ottoman Empire
66:
63:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1061:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1040:
1037:
1035:
1032:
1030:
1027:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1005:
1002:
1000:
997:
995:
992:
990:
987:
985:
982:
980:
977:
975:
972:
970:
967:
965:
962:
961:
959:
952:
949:
931:12°20′59.34″E
916:
915:0-85045-565-0
912:
908:
907:
900:
891:
884:
878:
872:
871:0-674-64465-4
868:
864:
860:
855:
853:
851:
849:
840:
839:
834:
828:
821:
817:
814:
808:
802:
801:0-486-43396-X
798:
794:
793:
788:
783:
767:
763:
759:
755:
751:
750:
742:
735:
728:
724:
723:
716:
710:
709:0-415-24370-X
706:
702:
698:
697:
690:
683:
679:
675:
672:
666:
657:
651:
650:0-486-43396-X
647:
643:
642:
637:
632:
628:
618:
614:
611:
607:
604:
603:
595:
592:
590:
587:
585:
582:
580:
577:
575:
572:
571:
561:
556:
553:
550:
547:
544:
540:
537:
532:
531:
529:
526:
523:
518:
517:
515:
512:
510:good warrior.
509:
506:
503:
500:
499:
498:
494:
493:kul] uan farn
491:
489:
486:
484:
481:
479:
476:
474:
471:
469:
466:
463:
461:
458:
456:
453:
451:
448:
445:
443:
440:
438:
435:
433:
430:
428:
425:
423:
420:
418:
415:
414:
413:
412:
409:
407:
398:
396:
387:
385:
381:
375:
374:
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
316:
315: : HARAD
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
291:UK : ASM
288:
284:
281:
280:
279:
272:
269:
268:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
230:
227:
226:
225:
222:
214:
211:
209:
205:
201:
192:
184:
177:
173:
168:
159:
157:
153:
149:
145:
141:
137:
133:
129:
125:
121:
116:
113:
106:
104:
100:
96:
92:
88:
84:
80:
76:
72:
62:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
40:
36:
32:
23:
19:
1024:Roman Athens
928:45°26′5.22″N
921:
904:
899:
890:
882:
877:
862:
837:
827:
807:
790:
782:
769:. Retrieved
753:
747:
734:
720:
715:
694:
689:
673:
670:
665:
656:
639:
631:
616:
609:
492:
487:
482:
477:
472:
468:litu auka ui
467:
459:
454:
449:
441:
436:
431:
426:
421:
416:
404:
392:
376:
370:
366:
362:
358:
354:
350:
346:
342:
338:
334:
333:EGNA :
330:
326:
322:
318:
314:
310:
306:
302:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
277:
270:
267:NAÞU :
264:
260:
256:
252:
248:
245:RADS :
244:
241:BON : H
240:
236:
232:
228:
223:
220:
212:
197:
117:
107:
81:against the
68:
31:Piraeus Lion
30:
28:
18:
943: /
906:The Vikings
771:5 September
432:kuþan a uah
359:MIÞ :
329:TAR :
299:UK : A
259:UF : H
136:Scandinavia
112:Porto Leone
979:Runestones
958:Categories
861:. (1981).
749:Fornvännen
703:. p. 141.
624:References
600:Literature
545:. son of
406:Erik Brate
319: : HA
307:N : L
297:R : A
257:AR :
176:Varangians
152:Varangians
140:Erik Brate
132:runestones
51:Saint Mark
813:BT-Dragon
766:1404-9430
701:Routledge
343: : N
251:A :
103:Stockholm
816:Archived
789:(2004).
729:. p. 36.
638:(2004).
568:See also
543:Roslagen
204:lindworm
172:lindworm
124:lindworm
97:and the
760:: 1–4.
684:, p. 53
455:k hiuku
384:Armenia
380:Romania
148:Vikings
71:Piraeus
65:History
35:Italian
913:
869:
799:
764:
707:
682:503610
680:
648:
617:Viator
361:RAGNAR
146:. The
144:Swedes
128:scroll
55:marble
744:(PDF)
678:JSTOR
59:runic
911:ISBN
867:ISBN
797:ISBN
773:2010
762:ISSN
705:ISBN
646:ISBN
382:and
261:UGSA
43:lion
29:The
541:in
367:MAN
351:IAR
335:GRI
134:in
101:in
960::
847:^
756:.
754:85
752:.
746:.
725:.
699:.
674:76
369:IU
365:RU
309:AG
249:AF
231:RU
105:.
37::
822:.
777:.
775:.
488:a
464:-
446:-
386:.
355:I
347:U
345:A
341:R
337:K
331:V
327:S
325:R
321:F
317:R
313:K
305:E
301:U
295:D
293:U
289:A
285:R
265:A
255:I
247:H
243:A
33:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
_-_First_Ancient_Greek_lion.jpg)
_-_Foto_Giovanni_Dall%27Orto,_3-Aug-2007.jpg)