Winged lion

Mark the Evangelist's symbol is the winged lion, the Lion of Saint Mark.

The winged lion is a mythological creature that resembles a lion with bird-like wings.

Mythical adaptions

The winged lion is found in various forms especially in Ancient and Medieval civilizations.

There were different mythological adaptions for the winged lion:

• Shedu in Sumerian, Akkadian, Persian, and Iranian tribes mythology was depicted as a winged lion. He has often been depicted with a bull body instead of a lion body.

• The winged lion was the heraldic symbol of Mark the Evangelist.

• The first beast in the first vision of the Prophet Daniel resembled a winged lion.

Emblems

The emblems of the winged lions were featured in different countries:

• The emblem of the Republic of Venice as the heraldic symbol of St. Mark the Evangelist, the patron saint of the Republic.
  • The Lion of Venice is an ancient bronze sculpture of a winged lion that is located in the Piazzetta di San Marco, Venice
  • The flag of the short-lived Septinsular Republic, derived from the above (Ionian Islands under Venetian rule), has a winged lion on it
  • The logo of Assicurazioni Generali which has a winged lion on it was derived from the above
• The emblem of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Allied Joint Force Command Naples Headquarters - Naples in Naples, Italy is a winged lion holding a sword and scroll on which is written "PAX" - Latin for "peace."

Popular culture

The winged lions were featured in different media appearances:

• In Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (as well as its unofficial sequel Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys), the character King Moonracer is a winged lion.

• In MÄR, one of Dorothy's ÄRMs is Flying Leo which summons a flying lion.

• In AdventureQuest Worlds, there is a pet called Pegalion which is a winged lion.

• In Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger, there is a winged lion Dora Monster in a pharaoh's clothing named Dora Sphinx.

Gallery

• The Winged lion in art
• 
  Johann Daniel Donat, Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor in the regalia of the Order of the Golden Fleece, 1806
• 
  Amos Kenan, Winged lion
• 
  Winged Lion Memorial

See also

• Chimera
• Griffin
• Manticore
• Merlion
• Nemean Lion
• Sea-lion
• Sphinx