Lions on the palace pier. Lions on the Admiralty embankment. Lions in art

Now the pier with lions is located on the Admiralteyskaya Embankment near the eastern pavilion of the Admiralty (next to the Palace Bridge). According to local historians and bloggers, these lions are the most famous lions of St. Petersburg.

After the last reconstruction, the pier with lions, located next to the Palace Bridge, forms a single architectural ensemble with its southern descent. The figures of lions are made by chasing from sheet copper, they were made in 1832 at the Alexander iron foundry in St. Petersburg. They were made by the master I. Prang according to the model of the sculptor I. P. Prokofiev. At the same factory, cast-iron pedestals with volutes were cast for lions according to the drawing of the architect L. Charlemagne.

Description

The Palace Pier is a wide granite staircase leading down to the Bolshaya Neva. At the top of the stairs, rising above the level of the shore, there are granite pedestals of lions. The monotony of the vertical parallelepiped of the pedestal is divided by narrow ledges. The stair descent from the sides is limited by the parapet of the embankments, which smoothly turns into a pedestal.

Lion in symbolism

The lion is called the "King of the Beasts". A traditional symbol of power, embodying the power of the sun and fire.

In Egyptian mythology, it is a symbol of divine power and royal dignity; among the Assyrians and Greeks, lions were considered companions of goddesses; in early Christian art, the lion alternately symbolized St. Mark, St. Jerome, and even Christ himself - as "the lion from the tribe of Judah."

lion models

A tripartite correspondence has been preserved between Karl Rossi, the director of the St. Petersburg Alexander Iron Foundry M. E. Clark and the Minister of the Imperial Court P. M. Volkonsky.

First, Rossi asked Clark about the possibility of making such statues, and then, apparently having received an answer, on October 20 he wrote to P. M. Volkonsky:

Report to the Minister of the Imperial Court:

(there are no good craftsmen at the factory, but)... the perfection of the figures will depend on the art of preparing such models ... it would be much better to order these models to be made by famous artists

In response, the minister suggested that the sculptor inspect and measure the marble lions of Triscorni, which are located at the entrance to the house of the Ministry of War, in order to

The architect followed the minister’s instructions: he examined and even sketched the marble lions, but based on the results of the work, he expressed his categorically negative attitude towards the option imposed on him:

Carl Rossi quote:

... these lions, because of their smallness for this purpose, will show disgrace

After that, a rather long break came in the design of the Palace Pier, the reasons for which remained unknown to historians.

Creation of sculptures

... the sovereign wants to know how much it will cost to cast two lions according to the model available at the factory ...

These arguments of Clark moved the matter from a dead point: copper lions for the Palace Wharf were created. They were made by the master I. Prang according to the model of the sculptor I. P. Prokofiev. Cast iron pedestals with volutes were cast for the lions at the same factory according to a drawing by the architect L. Charlemagne.

The sovereign ordered to make two lions for chasing and four cast iron pedestals for lions and vases

The lions were installed on the Palace Pier as a decoration in September 1832.

Preservation and restoration

The first information about the removal of lions from the pedestals dates back to -1914 and is associated with the construction of the Palace Bridge. Historians logically assume that the removed lions were restored.

The safety of the lions allowed them to continue decorating the Palace Pier, while the most damaged monuments went for restoration.

The sculptures were sent to restoration workshops in the early 1950s: first one, and then the other, were sent for restoration and soon decorated the Palace Pier again.

Unscheduled restoration

The copper lion was sent for urgent repairs to restoration workshops. The necessary funds for this were provided by the Russian Party of Life, the project was supervised by the chairman of the Federation Council, party leader Sergei Mironov.

The removal of the lion for restoration was framed as a theatrical performance. "Doctors"-restorers in white coats examined the sick lion, they bandaged him and loaded him with a crane onto a KAMAZ draped under an ambulance. On the empty pedestal, the lion was replaced by people dressed as lions.

The restoration lasted about 3 months and cost about 300 thousand rubles.

For the period of restoration, the place of the sculpture was first taken by a plastic copy - the "solar" lion Boniface, painted by the participants of the "Youthful Eight". Subsequently, this lion was sold at an auction for 1.5 million rubles, the money was transferred to the accounts of the Scientific and Practical Center for Assistance to HIV-Infected Children and Pregnant Women.

Later on the pedestal was a figure of a lion, assembled from balloons.

In 2007, a second sculpture was renovated as part of the same initiative. The restoration cost 262 thousand rubles and was completed by September 2007. A flat copy of a lion was erected on the pedestal.

Restoration work

The coating restoration technology includes cleaning, priming and restoration itself. A feature of restoration work in St. Petersburg is that it is very important to process the sculptures with high quality, since the paintwork in our environment lasts no more than three to four years. in the course of the work, traces of previous restoration work were revealed - many layers of paint were found on the sculptures. In addition, after clearing the figures of lions, there were many holes and dents.

In addition to the complex of restoration works, the structure was strengthened with an internal tubular frame. Holes were cut into the shells of the hollow sculptures and brass tubes were installed.

The restorers are convinced of the strength of the created structure:

Now the sculptures will be difficult to break, of course, if you do not hit them with a 10-kilogram sledgehammer!

The team of restorers consisted of four people, the same number participated in the dismantling. The duration of the work was about a month.

Lions in art

The very location of the lions, on the front Palace Pier, surrounded by the buildings of the Admiralty and the Winter Palace, facing the Neva, caused attention to it from artists.

Music: Jean - Yves Thibaudet - Love Letters

Petersburg can be called a city of lions,
because these representatives of the cat family -
from cast iron, gypsum, marble and copper -
a great multitude scattered along the streets of St. Petersburg!

* * *


At Kushelev's dacha - Bezborodko.

right there...
From somewhere I heard that the building is guarded by 22 lions.
For some reason, I counted 24, namely:
on the one hand 12, and I mean that on the other - the same number ...))

How many are there really?

Here's what one official source says:
"29 cast-iron lions sat in one long row along the metal lattice that encloses the territory of the former
estates of A.G. Kushelev-Bezborodko.
The portcullis with lions was built in the late 1790s at the same time as the pier guarded by four sphinxes.
There are lions near the house number 40 on Polyustrovskaya embankment.
Previously, they held a cast-iron chain in their mouths." ...... Evona how!))

Bank bridge on the Griboyedov Canal

A bit of history:

The suspension bridge itself was built in 1825-1826 according to the design of Wilhelm von Tretter. And the bridge owes the appearance of griffins to P.P. Sokolov.
Now the question arises. Why were griffins planted on the Bank Bridge?
The fact is that the bridge is located in front of the building of the former Assignation Bank. And according to mythology, the duty of griffins is to protect treasures. So these lions with eagle wings guarded the gold reserves of the Russian State. By the way, there is a belief among the townspeople that if you rub the paw of a griffin, wealth will not pass you by.
I suggest checking it out just in case. ;) If this is true, then in the very near future you will be able to buy a tour to Dombay and spend an unforgettable vacation there.))

right there...


Right there...
Bank bridge -
one of the most beautiful places in St. Petersburg, isn't it?))
* * * * *

Palace pier.

The very first king of animals arrived in St. Petersburg in 1722
from Venice - Peter I ordered it for a sculpture symbolizing the victory of Russia over Sweden (this monument still flaunts in the Summer Garden).

But most of all lion statues were “brought up” in St. Petersburg in the 19th century - then it was fashionable for homeowners to decorate the gates or steps of mansions with a couple of respectable beasts. In addition to houses, predators guard the slopes to the Neva and numerous bridges,
however, the most famous St. Petersburg lions settled

In 1832 at the Palace Pier opposite the Admiralty.

These copper sculptures were made according to the drawings of Carlo Rossi, and since they are paired, they are not bored - especially since the creators provided them with balls that you can play with when no one is watching.
But in front of witnesses, the lions behave very seriously:
claws out and teeth bared.
* * *

Palace pier.
Admiralteyskaya Embankment, next to the Palace Bridge.

right there...

right there...

right there...
* * *

Lviny bridge in the alignment of Malaya Podyacheskaya street,
Griboyedov Canal

there

right there...

right there...

* * *

Shuvalovsky Park, 1

right there...

In Peterhof

Datsan. Primorsky prospect, 91.

Shi-Dza (Chinese lion from Manchuria).
Petrovskaya embankment, next to the museum "House of Peter the Great"

Manezhnaya Square, Karavannaya street, 1.

On Malaya Sadovaya at the entrance to the Vietnamese restaurant "Mekong"

University embankment.
* * *

****

Moika embankment, 59,
Eliseevsky Palace Hotel

Ibid
***

Embankment Makarova, 4

there

there
* * *

Nevsky prospect, 72,
at the entrance to the hotel "Red Terem"
* * *

Pavlovsk is a suburb of St. Petersburg.
Large stone staircase.

right there...

there
* * *

Prospect Veteranov, 109.

G. Pushkin - a suburb of St. Petersburg.

Guard lion on St. Isaac's Square.
* * *

Russian Ethnographic Museum.
A gift from the state of Israel to St. Petersburg for the 300th anniversary of the city.
Sculpture: length - 3m, width - 2.5m, height - 2m

At Elagin Palace.

At the building of the Nikolaev Military Academy.
/ the author of the photo claims that this is the only LYING lion in St. Petersburg.
But along the way, I became convinced that this is not so!)) /

* * *


Russian Museum, aka Mikhailovsky Castle

right there...


right there...
* * *
And here are some lions, whose addresses I do not know,
or lions are simply unrecognized.
I'd be grateful if you could give me some advice! :)

№ 1

№ 2

№ 3

№ 4


At the entrance of a cafe...
... pathetic parody! But this is a personal opinion...

* * * Lions on the facade of buildings. * * *
Unfortunately, I can't provide all addresses.
Let's just love it!

Coat of arms of Yusupov at the Yusupov Palace

Kamennoostorovsky prospect, 9\2

... however, the lattice of the bridge ... (but which one? - tell me!)

He was nicknamed "The Kissing Lion"))
I don't remember the address exactly. Looks like Petropavlovka...
(Who knows, tell me!)

But what about sphinxes and griffons?
Let's classify them as lions too!))

Petersburg is rightfully considered a city densely populated by lions. In stone, cast iron and metal, in full growth, in bas-reliefs and on monuments. With balls under paws at the front stairs and wings on bridges. Smiling and serious, disheveled and neat. It is absolutely impossible to count them all. But we invite you to get acquainted with the most famous.

You can dedicate one day of your stay in St. Petersburg to "share your paw" on the kings of animals of the Northern capital, or you can remember their location and collect acquaintances with them in your collection during walks on different days.

Advice. If you like non-standard photos and story shooting, take a small toy of a lion cub with you and insert it into the frame. Your pictures will become much brighter and more interesting.

Let's start the Lion's route from the beginning, i.e. from the Petrograd side, from the house of Peter I. In front of the house, looking at the embankment, stands bust of the founder of the city. If you don't know, it's almost impossible to notice on his left shoulder the muzzle of a lion. What is it and why did the lion appear in this form on the sculpture? - you ask. The thing is that on the coat of arms of Sweden - a country with which St. Peter-Burch owes its appearance at the beginning of the 18th century, two lions flaunt. The location of this symbol on the shoulder of Peter shows an undeniable victory over the Swedes and the humility of the northern enemy.

Historians argue why there are so many lions in St. Petersburg. Of course, the most reasonable explanation is that lions, as symbols of the sun and power, were extremely popular in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, many sculptors and architects loved them, decorating the entrances to palaces with them and creating spectacular bas-reliefs with muzzles. But it can be assumed that the lions in the city remained from the Swedes, more precisely, as a memory of the victory over them, and now they carry their guard, guarding the Russian city on the Neva, which was once the Nyenschanz fortress.

On the route we will meet not only ordinary lions. They will be with wings, and in the most bizarre images. Therefore, literally walking a couple of steps along the embankment, we meet one of the most unusual lions of the city - Shih Tza. These are mythological lions brought to the Neva embankment from the city of Girin in Manchuria in 1907. Since then, unusual statues have been guarding the pier on Petrovsky Embankment.

A few more lions lurk on the Petrograd side, we will find them. The first lion along the way of the route is located on Kronversky prospect, 5, at the entrance to the St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University. Leo is a little sad, perhaps because he is not as popular as his counterparts.

Next lions, even the pride you will find at the entrance to Leningrad Zoo. This arrangement of sculptures and bas-reliefs is quite logical, especially since there are living representatives of the cat family in the zoo itself.

The last lion on the Petrograd side, which was included in our route, is located on ship "Flying Dutchman" moored on Mytinskaya embankment. The restaurant ship itself is very pretty, and from the vantage point where the lion is visible, a beautiful view of the Neva and the Winter Palace opens up.

We cross the Birzhevoy Bridge to Vasilevsky Island and almost immediately, on 2 more lions are waiting for you on the Makarov embankment guarding the marina. Calm lions majestically look at what is happening around and, perhaps, observe the successes of Zenit, because their muzzles are turned towards the stadium-training base of this team.

The following lions very often flash in tourist pictures, though not in the main role, but in addition to the main composition. Granite lions-bas-reliefs with metal rings in their teeth adorn the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, descent to the water. The panorama of Strelka is beautiful, but while enjoying the views, don't forget about the lions that have guarded the once main foreign trade square for almost 300 years.

Another very famous mythical lions of Vasilyevsky Island is, of course, sphinxes at the Academy of Arts on University Embankment. Sphinxes are lions with a human head; in ancient Egypt, the face of a sphinx is, as a rule, the face of a deceased pharaoh, whose eternal rest they guard. Petersburg sphinxes were carved from syenite stone about 3.5 thousand years ago. And for a long time they served the one in whose honor they were created - the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III. In 1830, at the height of the enthusiasm for the culture of Ancient Egypt in Europe, the sphinxes for sale in the city of Alexandria were acquired by one of the members of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. In 1834 they took their place on the banks of the Neva. Regarding the general age of sphinxes, they visit nothing in St. Petersburg. But for thousands of tourists and lovers of mysticism, this is one of the centers of attraction. Be sure to get acquainted with the most "adult" residents of St. Petersburg and you. And do not forget that the pier is also decorated with sculptures of very cute winged lions, their noses rubbed to a shine for happiness shine in the rays of the northern sun.

Next we go to the unconditional the most popular lions of St. Petersburg. Two handsome men with balloons, standing, or even more correctly, playing at the Palace Pier no one is left indifferent. There are always more than enough people who want to hug a lion. We do not recommend that you repeat tourist bad manners and try to climb them.

Firstly, it is a monument and it is destroyed from constant physical impact, and secondly, it is simply unsafe, the lions stand quite high. Look at them, smile at their majesty, and seal them in your memory. These lions, decorating the descent to the Neva in front of the Admiralty, have been at their post since 1832, they are cast from copper by chasing.

Now we go to two famous delightful pedestrian bridges - Lion and Bank. Both of them are not only exceptional monuments of bridge architecture, but also incredibly bright, beautiful and graceful objects.

Both bridges span the Griboedov Canal. Lion Bridge is located a little away from the main tourist trails, but Bankovsky is the undisputed "star" of photographs from St. Petersburg. The Lion Bridge obviously got its name from the 4 lion statues that adorn the bridge. bank bridge, on which chains are held by lions with golden wings, was so named because of the proximity to the entrance of the State Assignment Bank. First, get to the Lion Bridge in a way convenient for you (on the way, it will probably already be lunch time, where you can organize it, see our Where to Eat section), and then along the historical canal embankment, reach the Bank Bridge. Both bridges, along with the Post Office Bridge, are also notable for the fact that only three chain bridges have survived in St. Petersburg. They were built in the first half of the 19th century.

From Bankovsky Bridge, continuing along the Griboedov Canal embankment, we will reach entrance to the Russian Museum. Here we are waiting for emasculated, stately white lions. The lions guarding the entrance to the Mikhailovsky Palace also have balls under their paws. Where does such a symbol come from? - reasonably wonder you during our walk. There are several versions of why lions are usually depicted with balls. According to one version, the ball is a symbol of the sun, knowledge, strength, something whole and meaningful. Placing it under the lion's paw, the sculptor once again emphasizes the majesty and supreme origin of the beast. According to another version - balls-balls help lions guard. Constantly holding the ball helps the lion not to fall asleep, if the lion dozes off, the paw weakens, the ball rolls and falls.

The next lions on the route are again unusual. They live in the Garden of Friendship on Liteiny Prospekt, 15. These are very young sculptures of lions, they settled in the city in 2003, were donated by Shanghai, sister city, on the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. The square itself, in which the lions are located, is very attractive and unusual, and if you are lucky to get into it at the end of spring, then you will find not only lions in it, but also lush cherry blossoms.

The last point in the walking part of our walk is quite far, but it is worth it to reach it. 29 lions- the largest population of these animals in the stone are located in front of Bezborodko's dacha on Sverdlovskaya embankment.

The magnificent fence of the former dacha of a rich family consists entirely of lions, which hold a single chain in their mouths. The ensemble of the fence is charming and, due to the fact that the lions are made of cast iron, has been well preserved. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the house, which was once the center of the Polustrovo hydropathic resort. However, you should definitely get to this area to see another St. Petersburg, no longer front and tourist, but residential and industrial. And the lions, who have been doing their service for more than 200 years, will become your guides.

Let's finish our lion route on Yelagin Island. We will get there in the evening not by chance - we spend a bewitching sunset on the Western Spit of Yelagin Island in an embrace with lions. Yelagin Island and the Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after Kirov is a favorite vacation spot for Petersburgers. Yelagin Palace - the heart of Yelagin Island, was the summer imperial residence and was built according to the project of D. Quarenghi at the end of the 18th century, rebuilt by C. Rossi during the reign of Alexander I. The palace is made in the Palladian style and looks very elegant and touching. Surrounded by greenery and an atmosphere of relaxation and smiles, but attracts even more. The central staircase is decorated with 2 statues of lions. They harmoniously fit into the general ensemble of the park and make you want to hug them in a friendly way and treat them to ice cream. 2 more lions are waiting for you on the Western Spit, as you remember, to see off this great day. If you are lucky with sunny weather, you will enjoy absolutely magical views and landscapes.

Petersburg and its environs "live" a huge number of lions. You will meet them in Pavlovsk, where they are almost a symbol, and in Peterhof and in the park Konstantinovsky Palace.

Lions will have different muzzles, different poses, but everywhere they will serve for one - to protect you and make your stay in St. Petersburg serene and happy.

Petersburg is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world, a large part of the grandeur of which is the many-sided sculptures of lions living in the city. Despite the vagaries of changeable weather and the climate, which is generally unusual for their habitats, royal animals feel at ease in foggy Palmyra, located on almost every corner. History is silent about the history of their appearance in the vastness of the northern capital, however, it is generally accepted that the fashion for lions in all its manifestations (granite, cast iron, marble and bronze sculptures of lions) became widespread in the first third of the 19th century with the penetration of classicism into Russian architecture. Without questioning the statements of pundits, we only note that the facts of lion migration took place earlier.

Rumor has it that the first lions appeared on the banks of the Neva soon after the founding of the city, for the Sovereign Emperor Peter I, in search of the best, discovered in Europe not only the wonders of shipbuilding, but also architectural delights. Petersburg lions are represented by an enviable variety of shapes and sizes, invariably attracting the inhabitants and guests of the city not only by their appearance, but also by the numerous stories and ups and downs of events associated with them.

Perhaps one of the most popular lion old-timers of St. Petersburg are the lions of the Palace Pier. A royally majestic formidable beast skillfully minted from copper with a mouth bared in a powerful roar, opening frightening fangs to the enemy's gaze - here it is a sculpture of a guard lion in all its glory. The famous pair of lions is the object of constant attention of those eager to see St. Petersburg with their own eyes, but few people know what a series of accidents determined their appearance and the very possibility of living on the banks of the Neva.

Located in the center of the capital, and even not far from the royal residence, the pier required a decent design. His Majesty was offered various options for a decorative solution, up to a copy of gigantic equestrian groups like those located in Paris at the entrance to the Champs Elysees, however, the financial report of the director of the Alexander Iron Foundry M. Clark became decisive for the final verdict.

In response to a question about how much it would cost to buy a lion statue in the quantity necessary to decorate the pier, Clarke reported that casting and embossing from copper sheet according to models already available at the plant would significantly speed up and reduce the cost of both the production and installation of decorative guards. Despite the protests of the architect K. Rossi, who appealed to the prudence of the Sovereign Emperor, because, from his point of view, the lions taken as a basis are negligible for decorating the embankment, Nicholas I approved the project. After all, the treasury is not bottomless, and shortly before that, the “imperial financial department” had already allocated a fabulous sum for those times to acquire a real masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture, designed to decorate the capital's shores.

However, let us return to the lions of the Palace Pier. The prototype, against which K. Rossi so zealously opposed, was the lions of Triscorni, who guarded the entrance to the War Ministry. How fantastically beautiful a marble lion can be, St. Petersburg was convinced more than once by the example of this particular pair. Large-headed with heavy curls of a recalcitrant shaggy mane resting on a lean muscular body, regal animals make visitors linger respectfully at the entrance to the building. The powerful paw of one of the animals rests on the ball, and the gaze is turned to a no less formidable opponent, whose extended claws pick up the slipped ball. The name of the author, the year, and the place of creation of the marble beauties are indicated on the pedestal, but this gives more questions than answers.

The most talented of the Triscorni family of sculptors was Paolo, and the most economically successful was Augustine. But since Paolo was lucky enough to become more famous, the authorship of the younger brother was not always advertised. In addition, Paolo always signed his works with his first name, and not just the family name, and only the last name appears on the pedestal. Who, ultimately, is the author of the famous St. Petersburg lions? And where did the marble couple lie from the year of its creation (1810) until the construction of the mansion (1817), which was called upon to protect? It would not be superfluous to mention that although the composition and appearance of the animals were somewhat modified, attributing to Triscorni the full authorship of the masterpiece means sinning against the truth, since the sculptures of the Florentine square were taken as the basis.

The lions of the most beautiful Florentine Piazza della signoria gave life not only to the lions of Triscorni, but also to the plaster sculptures installed on the main staircase of the Academy of Arts, the copper lions of the palace in Strelna, the cast-iron sculptures of Elagin and the Mikhailovsky palaces and the stunning statues of the Lion Cascade. Although sometimes the authorship of the latter is assigned to the sculptor I. Prokofiev, however, a detailed list of the professor’s works does not include guard lions, and this assumption is based on confusion in documents in which plaster casts of Florentine lion forms are adjacent to casts of tritons by I. Prokofiev. Be that as it may, but the copies of the Florentine leaders of the animal kingdom are no less beautiful than the originals, and the most striking beauties of the empire could envy the magnificent manes of the first cast-iron lions in St. Petersburg in the Elagin Palace.

The lions of Petersburg easily fit into the rich life of the capital's aristocracy, whose influence was so great, as Petersburgers joked, that even frozen statues sometimes changed their appearance. There were legends about philosophizing lions near the Laval house far beyond the city of Peter the Great. Excuse me, how can one not get carried away with lofty matters, if such bright heads come into the house - A. Pushkin, N. Karamzin, A. Griboyedov, M. Lermontov and many others. Both the mistress of the house, and the house itself, and its pensive lions made such an indelible impression that N. Nekrasov did not fail to mention the “high house on the banks of the Neva” in his poem “Russian Women”.
Laval lions are unusual not only in the expression of thoughtful muzzles, but also in general with a decorative solution. Their heads, necks and part of their backs are covered with an unpretentious scarf decorated with symmetrical furrows, reminiscent of the ancient Egyptian sphinx tradition, whose popularity would increase significantly after the military campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte in Egypt and Syria.

The architecture of St. Petersburg is complex, multifaceted and famous for countless impressive monuments and monuments, but the diversity of these structures allows us to speak of an open-air museum - the museum of St. Petersburg bridges. Connecting together a huge city, these vital threads were not a simple fusion of stone and metal, but a creation of human hands, designed not only to simplify freedom of movement, but also to decorate the expanses of the northern capital. Many of them were created by the joint efforts of teams of engineers, architects, designers, sculptors, artists, but three bridges are truly a brilliant result of the union of two creative geniuses - engineer G. Tretter and sculptor P. Sokolov, who created the Lion, Bank and Egyptian bridges.

Work on the construction of the Lvinsky and Bankovsky bridges was carried out almost simultaneously, so it is not surprising that the tandem used a number of technical and decorative solutions twice. Both bridges represent a contrast unity of an openwork fence with massive cast-iron sculptures of animals arranged in pairs, planted with muzzles to each other and holding thick steel cables hanging along the crossing in their mouths.

Despite the seeming monolithic nature, the statues, consisting of two halves, are hollow and are hidden under the traced convex muscles and the powerful paws of the hanging structure that have stuck into the pedestal. The guard lions of the Lion's Bridge have been serving for many years, but how unbearably heavy the burden entrusted to them is evidenced only by the strained tail unnaturally swept over the gigantic back.
The peace of the Bank Bridge and the surrounding area is guarded by other creatures - griffins. Paying tribute to ancient legends about mythical creatures with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a ferocious lion, the sculptor P. Sokolov placed griffins on pedestals located near the Assignation Bank. Like the lions of the Lion Bridge, the griffins of Bankovsky were cast iron, but the eagle wings with finely crafted plumage were minted from red copper and covered with red and then with gold leaf - a symbol of the wealth that they were called upon to protect.

In addition to bridges and embankments, winged creations are often found in the works of architects J. Quarenghi and C. Rossi, significant for the history of the construction of St. Petersburg. Therefore, if an inquisitive reader feels a desire to get acquainted with other representatives of the numerous family of St. Petersburg griffins, then he can safely go for a walk along Nevsky Prospekt - a meeting place for mythical creatures, young and old. After all, the guard lions of the Bank Bridge are far from the only guardians of order and keepers of the wealth of northern Palmyra. Moreover, not the only lion-like mythical creatures.

The expanses of St. Petersburg have become a haven for creatures, in the words of the ancient Egyptians, wise as a man and strong as a lion - sphinxes. Although the lions of St. Petersburg inherit the Greek rather than the Egyptian tradition of depicting these mythical creatures - with the body of a lion, but the head and chest of a woman. Such are the sphinxes of the Egyptian bridge, Kamenny Island and the pier of the Sverdlovsk embankment near the house of A. Bezborodko, in the courtyard of the Mining Institute and on the fountains of J. Thomas de Thomon.

However, the Sverdlovsk embankment and the estate of A. Bezborodko are known not so much for sphinxes as for the lion fence, which has no analogues in beauty and monumentality. History says that the arrangement of the embankment section opposite the estate took place under the strict guidance of the architect G. Quarenghi, who was responsible for the restructuring of the house, but neither the author nor the place of casting of 29 rather peaceful cast-iron twin lions holding a sagging chain of the fence in their mouths is still unknown. As well as the reasons why, in fact, there are so many of them.

A truly Egyptian example of monumental and decorative sculpture are two granite statues from Ancient Thebes, installed on the pier near the Academy of Arts and dating back to the 15th century BC. At the behest of the pike, at my will, go, gentlemen of the sphinxes, to the glorious city of Peter the Great! Laughter with laughter, but if it were not for the dictates of fate, the legacy of the pharaohs would not have adorned St. Petersburg, but Paris. The bourgeois revolution, which began in July 1830, distracted the French government from buying up historical values, and, following the desire (and possibilities) of Emperor Nicholas I, the sphinxes went to the northern capital of the Russian Empire.

The streets of the city on the Neva have become a haven not only for classic European examples of lion decor and the inheritance of the traditions of the mythical image of the king of beasts, but also for outlandish giants, unusual for the Russian look, invariably attracting both experienced Petersburgers and crowds of enthusiastic tourists. It took three long years for the giant Shih Tsza lions to get from distant Manchuria to foggy Petersburg and stand guard over the Petrovskaya Embankment. The road is not close, and it's no joke - almost 5 tons of total weight and 4.5 meters of height for each of the giants required considerable financial costs. The sculptures were installed on the embankment at the request of the generous donor who sponsored the trip, General N. Grodekov, whose name is immortalized by grateful residents on a wide three-stage pedestal, which serves as the basis for Chinese colossi.

To be frank, the grotesquely protruding chest and a huge goggle-eyed head with a mouth wide open from ear to ear, showing a row of small sharp teeth, bear little resemblance to the classic lion image, but they don’t look a gift horse (oh, sorry, a lion) in the mouth. Not so long ago, the St. Petersburg lions accepted into their ranks another exotic couple to match the "Shi-tsza", who arrived from the distant Celestial Empire on the tercentenary of the founding of St. Petersburg and became part of the "Chinese Garden of Friendship" - a gift to the city from the Shanghai City Hall. In a word, the diplomatic issues have been settled, and the Shih Tza will no longer be lonely.

To paraphrase the words of the famous classic, Neva - how much the lion's heart merged in this word ... The large lion family of St. P. Sokolov, V. Demut-Malinovsky and many other "remaining behind the scenes" unknown creators, successfully kept the city from uninvited guests. For more than three hundred years of history of the city on the Neva, the enemy's foot has never set foot on the blessed granite of the St. Petersburg embankments. However, thanks to the efforts of modern authors, the lion population is growing, and who knows, maybe the next representative of the lion pride will defend the home of our reader...

On the Neva embankment, opposite the eastern wing of the Admiralty, crowned with a slender golden spire with a ship, there is a granite Palace Pier, decorated with two copper statues of guard lions with a front paw on a ball.

The lions stand with their heavy lobed heads turned towards each other on the upper ledges of a wide granite staircase descending to the very water. Their formidable muzzles with half-open bared mouths and terrible fangs are peculiar and expressive. Broad chest, powerful paws and a slender muscular body with a taut belly speak of the strength and dexterity of a predator. The lions rest on the ball with their front paw with extended curved claws.

These are perhaps the most popular guard lions in St. Petersburg. The royally majestic statues of formidable beasts finely embossed from sheet copper are clearly visible from everywhere, and their profiles are clearly drawn against the background of the dark gray surface of the Neva and the pale blue of the clear sky.

Lions on Kronverksky Prospekt

In St. Petersburg there are lions not only made of marble, copper and cast iron. These beauties were cast in 1915 from concrete with the addition of granite chips. They are located on the Petrograd side, in the courtyard of house 5 on Kronverksky Prospekt.

These lions hid in a quiet courtyard not far from the Kshesinskaya mansion. The courtyard is small and quiet, and even those who have lived all their lives on Petrogradskaya usually do not know about this pair of statues.