Sculpture "the Lion", Lucerne, Switzerland

Mark Twain described the monument as "the saddest and most moving stone statue in the world».

Dying Lion - the world famous sculpture by Bertel Thorvaldsen, dedicated to the Swiss Guards who died while resisting storm the Tuileries Palace in Paris in revolt August 10, 1792


For two years, 1820 th and 1821 th, German bricklayer Lukas Ahorn carved dying lion in the rock, located on the shore of the lake, the site of an old quarry, which in the Middle Ages quarried sandstone for the construction of houses in Lucerne. Opening of the monument took place on August 10, 1821, and in 1882 it became the property m urban community.



nine-meter statue is located in an alcove length of 13 m and a height of 6 meters. The dying lion lying with his head on the right paw resting on a shield with the image of lily - a symbol of the king of France, who defended the heroes guards. At the head of the lion is another shield - the symbol of Switzerland. Above the bas-relief carved in the rock Latin inscription HELVETIORUM FIDEI AC VIRTUTI «Thank loyalty and bravery of Swiss"; below the bas-relief - Latin numerals 760 and 350, corresponding to the number of fallen warriors and survivors. At the foot of the monument in stone carved with the names of the officers and men who gave their lives in the name of duty.











Link to original