Winged lion

Mythical adaptations

The winged lion is found in various forms especially in ancient and medieval civilizations.

There were different mythological adaptions for the winged lion:

• On the beautiful ridges of that mountain flying-lion are inhibiting and they will be winching sharks, fish and elephant seals to their lairs. - from The Ramayana IIT translation.

• Lamassu or shedu in Mesopotamian mythology was depicted as a winged lion. It was often also depicted with a bull's body instead of a lion's body.

• The griffin in classical mythology was depicted as a lion-eagle creature. Griffin-like creatures were depicted in Egyptian and Persian mythology.

• The first beast in the first vision of the biblical prophet Daniel resembled a winged lion.

• The winged lion was the heraldic symbol of Mark the Evangelist.

• The goetic demon Vapula was depicted as a winged lion.

Emblems

The emblems of the winged lions were featured in different countries:

• The emblem of the Republic of Venice as the heraldic symbol of St. Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of the Republic.
  • The Lion of Venice is an ancient bronze sculpture of a winged lion that is located in the Piazzetta di San Marco, Venice.
  • The flag of the short-lived Septinsular Republic, derived from the above (Ionian Islands under Venetian rule), has a winged lion on it.
  • The logo of the Italian company Assicurazioni Generali which has a winged lion on it was derived from the above.
  • The winged Golden Lion is the highest prize of Venice Film Festival.
• The emblem of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Allied Joint Force Command Naples headquarters, in Italy, is a winged lion holding a sword and scroll on which is written PAX - Latin for 'peace'.
• The emblem of the Chinese city of Nanjing is Bixie, a winged lion that wards off evils.

Gallery

File:Flag of the Septinsular Republic.svg|Flag of the Septinsular Republic File:Palacio de Velázquez, Parque del Retiro, Madrid, España, 2017-05-18, DD 26.jpg|Palacio de Velázquez, Madrid File:Pomník čs. letců v Anglii Praha Klárov - lev 3-4 profil zprava.JPG|Winged Lion Memorial, Prague, 2014 File:DEU Gießen COA.svg|Coat of arms of Giessen File:Town Hall Square Leicester fountain detail.jpg|Leicester Town Square Fountain File:Djerba Oil lamp.JPG|12th-century oil lamp from Khorasan File:The Avenue Gardens P6110007.JPG|Regent's Park, London File:Никољско јеванђеље.jpg|a page from the Nikolje gospels depicting a winged dragon File:Nanjing_-Chaotian_Palace-_Bixie.jpg | Bixie, Emblem of Nanjing, China

References

References

1. "70 years ago, when our command was established the Lion of St Mark was decided on as our symbol.".