Venice’s winged lion statue, a well-known symbol perched in Piazza San Marco, may not be European in origin. A recent study published in the journal Antiquity suggests the bronze figure could be a repurposed Chinese tomb guardian crafted more than a thousand years ago.
Researchers from the University of Padua used advanced scientific testing to analyze nine metal samples from the statue. The results point to the Lower Yangtze River region in China, a historic area known for rich mineral deposits, including copper and lead.
Using lead isotope analysis, the team matched the composition of the lion’s bronze to similar materials found in ancient Chinese artifacts.
Stylistic clues link statue to Tang Dynasty tomb guardians
The statue has long served as a representation of Saint Mark and the Venetian Republic. However, its style—unlike other medieval European lions—raised questions.
Archaeologists say its unusual features, such as raised wings, pointed ears, and scars that may have once supported horns, closely resemble Tang dynasty tomb guardians, known in Chinese as zhènmùshòu.
Massimo Vidale, co-author of the study, noted that the statue does not follow typical Western depictions of lions from the Middle Ages. Instead, it reflects hybrid designs common in East Asian funerary art between the 7th and 10th centuries.
Silk Road trade may explain the statue’s journey to Venice
The study also explores how the statue might have made its way to Italy. Historians believe Venetian merchants Niccolò and Maffeo Polo—father and uncle of explorer Marco Polo—could have transported it from Asia during their travels along the Silk Road in the 13th century.
The statue may have arrived in pieces and been adapted by local artisans to align with Venice’s civic symbolism.
At the time, Venice controlled key maritime trade routes and used the winged lion as a political emblem, often shown holding the gospel of Saint Mark. Incorporating the statue into this imagery may have been a calculated effort to strengthen the Republic’s identity and maritime influence.
Researchers call for further historical investigation
Researchers acknowledge their conclusions are based on a mix of scientific analysis and historical context. They caution that while the evidence supports a Chinese origin, further investigation is needed. Historians are now being called on to trace the lion’s journey more precisely.
The findings offer new insight into the layered history behind Venice’s winged lion statue and open the door to reevaluating how global trade and cultural exchange shaped European symbols.
