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The Piraeus Lion is a Greek marble lion from about 360 BCE. In the 11th century, Scandinavians carved long runic inscriptions into its shoulders. It stands in Venice today.
What is the Piraeus Lion?
The Piraeus Lion, a marble lion some 3 metres tall, was carved in Greece around 360 BCE and stood for centuries at the harbour of Athens. In the second half of the 11th century, Scandinavians carved two long runic inscriptions into its shoulders and flanks, wound in the same dragon-scroll as runestones at home. In 1687 Venice carried the lion off as plunder, and it stands at the Arsenal of Venice today.
The runes are wound in the same dragon-scroll as Swedish runestones, in the Younger Futhark.
Questions
Where is the Piraeus Lion now?
At the Arsenal of Venice.
Who carved runes on the Piraeus Lion?
Scandinavians of the 11th century, probably men serving in the Byzantine emperor's Varangian Guard.