Venice, the Lion of San Marco is "made in China": "Brought by Marco Polo’s father and uncle"

The winged lion of San Marco, the iconic symbol of Venice and the Serenissima Republic, might not be a lion at all, according to a surprising hypothesis advanced by two archaeologists from the University of Padua. Massimo Vidale, from the Department of Cultural Heritage, and Gilberto Artioli, from the Department of Geosciences, suggest that the famous statue atop the column in St. Mark’s Square is, in fact, an ancient Chinese creature known as the Zhènmùshòu. This mythological animal was a "tomb guardian" placed to watch over the resting places of nobles and aristocrats in ancient China, with origins dating back to the 8th or 9th century.

The theory: Chinese origin, not Venetian

According to the two scholars, this "lion" is actually a hybrid creature from the Yangtze River area, near modern-day Shanghai. The Zhènmùshòu, a figure in Chinese mythology, was often depicted as a fusion of a lion, dragon, and other imaginary beasts, with a specific function: to protect tombs from the entrance of evil spirits and ensure peace in the afterlife. The idea that this Venetian symbol derives from such a distant and mysterious culture has sparked great interest and debate in academic circles.

Archaeological evidence

During a conference held at the Ca’ Foscari University in Venice, titled "Marco Polo: the Book and Asia," archaeologists Vidale and Artioli presented detailed studies supporting their thesis. By analyzing the statue from a morphological and stylistic perspective, the researchers found numerous similarities with Chinese Zhènmùshòu: the paws, posture, and even the orientation of the wings resemble typical representations of tomb guardians in ancient China.

Moreover, through studies on the materials and production techniques of the statue, the archaeologists identified specific features that seem to confirm the sculpture’s Oriental origin. This discovery would revolutionize the traditional narrative surrounding the Lion of St. Mark, a symbol of power and dominance of the Venetian Republic.

Historical connections between Venice and the East

While this hypothesis may seem surprising, it is worth remembering that Venice maintained commercial and cultural relations with the East for centuries, thanks to its privileged connections with the Byzantine Empire, Persia, and later, China itself. Marco Polo, the famous Venetian traveler, was one of the first Europeans to document the magnificence of China under Mongol rule during his stay at the court of Kublai Khan. It is therefore not impossible that an Eastern art object or symbol made its way to Venice and, over time, was reinterpreted as the winged lion, a Christian symbol and emblem of the evangelist Mark.

Implications of the discovery

If Vidale and Artioli’s theory were confirmed, this discovery would represent a revolution in the history of Venetian art and culture. The Lion of St. Mark would no longer be just a symbol of the Republic’s power, but also a testament to the vast connections and exchanges between East and West in the Middle Ages. Additionally, its Asian origin would highlight how Venice, for centuries, served as a crossroads of cultures and influences from all over the known world.

Conclusions

This fascinating hypothesis about the possible Chinese origin of the Winged Lion of St. Mark raises important questions not only about Venetian symbolism but also about how ancient peoples influenced each other through art and trade. Cultural exchanges between the East and West, often seen as limited to goods and material items, may have also involved religious symbols and beliefs, contributing to the creation of a shared heritage that we only partially recognize today. From this perspective, the Lion of Venice becomes not just a symbol of the city but a bridge between distant worlds and diverse cultures.