Lion of the Bavarians

Lion of the Bavarians is an impressive sculpture carved directly into the rock located in the city of Nafplio, in the Pronia district, next to the cemetery on Michail Yatro Street. The Bavarian Lion is one of the first outdoor sculptures of the modern Greek state, created by German professor at the University of Athens, sculptor Christian Siegel. The lion was created in 1836 by order of King Ludwig I of Bavaria in memory of the Bavarian soldiers who accompanied his son, King Otto of Greece, and died from the typhus epidemic in Greece in 1833–1834.  The impressive stone Bavarian lion, depicted asleep, was modeled after the Luxembourg Lion by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (in honor of the Swiss who died during the French Revolution) and symbolizes the strength and courage of the fallen, with the animal's sleep symbolizing their death.  Today, this place is a quiet and atmospheric corner of the city where history meets art. The lion has become a symbol of memory and gratitude, as well as one of the unusual sights of Nafplio, which is worth visiting during a walk.