The Lion sculpture has had a very long and obscure history, probably starting its existence as a funerary statue called zhènmùshòu (镇墓兽 in Simplified Chinese, literally “tomb guardian”) in medieval China, during the reign of the Tang Dynasty.
...The Lion, in its present form, is a composite of different pieces of bronze created at very different times, building upon ancient "core" components. It has undergone extensive restoration and repair work at various times.
...More recent studies, however, suggest that the statue likely comes from the regions near the lower course of the Yangtze River, in eastern China, and was probably cast sometime in the period from the 7th to the early 10th century CE, during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. The original bronze figure, taken as a whole, was likely significantly different from the Lion of today...
"Further proof arrives through the holes in the sculpture’s head, which researchers believe would have once held horns, and ears which have been rounded off. The sculpture, which is known to have arrived in parts and reassembled, was essentially modified to look more lion-like."
Keep in mind that this statue was broken and reassembled several times so it probably doesn't look very much like the original Chinese version any more. In particular, the wings aren't original.
> There is no historical record of when or how the lion arrived in Venice, but it was already installed atop the column in St. Mark’s Square by the time Marco Polo returned from China in 1295.
From Wikipedia:
The Lion sculpture has had a very long and obscure history, probably starting its existence as a funerary statue called zhènmùshòu (镇墓兽 in Simplified Chinese, literally “tomb guardian”) in medieval China, during the reign of the Tang Dynasty.
...The Lion, in its present form, is a composite of different pieces of bronze created at very different times, building upon ancient "core" components. It has undergone extensive restoration and repair work at various times.
...More recent studies, however, suggest that the statue likely comes from the regions near the lower course of the Yangtze River, in eastern China, and was probably cast sometime in the period from the 7th to the early 10th century CE, during the reign of the Tang Dynasty. The original bronze figure, taken as a whole, was likely significantly different from the Lion of today...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_of_Venice
"Further proof arrives through the holes in the sculpture’s head, which researchers believe would have once held horns, and ears which have been rounded off. The sculpture, which is known to have arrived in parts and reassembled, was essentially modified to look more lion-like."
https://news.artnet.com/art-world/bronze-venice-lion-from-ch...
Pictures of old Chinese lions: https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=63099308d1ada3ea&rlz=1...
Careful, some of them are the St Mark's Square lion. Which the metal came from China but the origin of the artwork seems unclear.
The article presents a good argument that it is Chinese. I don't see why it shouldn't be.
Me either. I also don't see any reason why my code shouldn't work. Yet right now it doesn't.
Keep in mind that this statue was broken and reassembled several times so it probably doesn't look very much like the original Chinese version any more. In particular, the wings aren't original.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH95kw9REEU
Gavin Menzies would've had a field day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gavin_Menzies#1434:_The_Year_a...
Except for the dates:
> There is no historical record of when or how the lion arrived in Venice, but it was already installed atop the column in St. Mark’s Square by the time Marco Polo returned from China in 1295.
Then he would have an excuse to come up with an even wilder theory of earlier contact