Lion of Bavaria
In Michael Iatrou Street between the church of Aghii Pandes and the modern graveyard, the visitor will find an exceptional sculptured monument, one of the most important of 19th century Greece; known as the lion of Bavaria, which dates from 1840 -1841.
Near the place where the statue is located was the landing place of King Otho, who was accompanied on each disembarkation by Bavarian officials, courtiers and soldiers. A large part of the Bavarian soldiers died from the typhus epidemic in the years 1833-1834. The inhabitants of Nafplio refer to the Bavarian lion as "the lion of the cucumbers" since it is said that the Bavarian soldiers died from the many bitter cucumbers they ate.
The lion, which is carved into the rock on a monumental scale, seems to be sleeping. The sculptor of this beautiful monument was the German, Christian Siegel, who was the first professor of sculpture at Athens Polytechnic. The model for the work was the Lion of Lucerne, by the famous Danish sculptor, Bertel Thorwaldsen.
Near the place where the statue is located was the landing place of King Otho, who was accompanied on each disembarkation by Bavarian officials, courtiers and soldiers. A large part of the Bavarian soldiers died from the typhus epidemic in the years 1833-1834. The inhabitants of Nafplio refer to the Bavarian lion as "the lion of the cucumbers" since it is said that the Bavarian soldiers died from the many bitter cucumbers they ate.
The lion, which is carved into the rock on a monumental scale, seems to be sleeping. The sculptor of this beautiful monument was the German, Christian Siegel, who was the first professor of sculpture at Athens Polytechnic. The model for the work was the Lion of Lucerne, by the famous Danish sculptor, Bertel Thorwaldsen.
