St. Petersburg is rightfully considered a city densely populated by lions. In stone, cast iron and metal, in full height, in bas-reliefs and on monuments. With balls under the paws of the main staircases and wings on the bridges. Smiling and serious, disheveled and neat. It is absolutely certain that it is impossible to count everyone. But we invite you to meet the most famous ones.

You can devote one day of your stay in St. Petersburg to “shaking a paw” with the kings of animals of the Northern capital, or you can remember their location and, during walks on different days, collect acquaintances with them in your collection.

Advice. If you like non-standard photographs and subject shooting, take a small toy lion cub with you and insert it into the frame. Your photos will become much brighter and more interesting.

Let's start the Lion's route from the beginning, i.e. on the Petrograd side, from the house of Peter I. In front of the house, looking at the embankment, stands bust of the city founder. If you don't know, it's almost impossible to notice on his left shoulder is the face of a lion. What is this and why did the lion appear in this form on the sculpture? - you ask. The thing is that on the coat of arms of Sweden, the country with which St. Petersburg owes its appearance to the war at the beginning of the 18th century, there are two lions. The placement of this symbol on Peter's shoulder shows the undeniable victory over the Swedes and the submission of the northern enemy.

Historians argue why there are so many lions in St. Petersburg. Of course, the most reasonable explanation is that lions, as symbols of the sun and power, were extremely popular in Europe in the 17th - 18th centuries; many sculptors and architects loved them, decorating entrances to palaces with them and creating spectacular bas-reliefs with faces. But we can also believe that the lions in the city remained from the Swedes, more precisely as a memory of the victory over them, and now they keep their guard, guarding the Russian city on the Neva, which was once the fortress of Nyenschanz.

On the route we will meet not only ordinary lions. They will be with wings and in the most bizarre images. Therefore, literally walking a couple of steps along the embankment, we meet some of the most unusual lions of the city - Shih Tzu. These are mythological lions brought to the Neva embankment from the city of Girin in Manchuria in 1907. Since then, unusual sculptures have been guarding the pier on Petrovskaya Embankment.

There are several more lions lurking on the Petrograd side, we will find them. The first lion along the route is located on Kronversky Prospekt, 5, at the entrance to the St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University. Leo is a little sad, perhaps because he is not as popular as his brothers.

Next lions, you will even find a pride at the entrance to Leningrad Zoo. This arrangement of sculptures and bas-reliefs is quite logical, especially since the zoo itself has living representatives of the cat family.

The last lion on the Petrograd side, which was included in our route, is located on ship "Flying Dutchman", moored on Mytinskaya embankment. The restaurant ship itself is very nice, and from the vantage point from where the lion is visible, there is a beautiful view of the Neva waters and the Winter Palace.

We cross the Birzhevoy Bridge to Vasilyevsky Island and almost immediately, on 2 more lions are waiting for you on Makarov embankment guarding the pier. The calm lions look majestically at what is happening around them and, perhaps, are watching the success of Zenit, because it is in the direction of the stadium-training base of this team that their faces are turned.

The following lions very often appear in tourist photographs, although not in the main role, but in addition to the main composition. Granite bas-relief lions with metal rings in their teeth decorate the Spit of Vasilyevsky Island, descent to the water. The panorama of Strelka is beautiful, but while enjoying the views, don’t forget about the lions that have been guarding the once main square of foreign trade for almost 300 years.

Another very famous mythical lions of Vasilyevsky Island are, of course, sphinxes near the Academy of Arts on Universitetskaya embankment. Sphinxes are lions with the head of a man; in Ancient Egypt, the face of a sphinx is, as a rule, the face of a deceased pharaoh, whose eternal peace they guard. The St. Petersburg sphinxes were carved from syenite stone about 3.5 thousand years ago. And for a long time they served the one in whose honor they were created - the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III. In 1830, at the height of the fascination with the culture of Ancient Egypt in Europe, the sphinxes, put up for sale in the city of Alexandria, were acquired by one of the members of the Imperial Academy of Sciences. In 1834 they took their place on the banks of the Neva. Regarding the general age of sphinxes, they visit St. Petersburg at all. But for thousands of tourists and lovers of mysticism, this is one of the centers of attraction. Be sure to meet the most “adult” residents of St. Petersburg too. And don’t forget that the pier is also decorated with sculptures of very cute winged lions, their noses, polished to a shine for good luck, glisten in the rays of the northern sun.

Next we go to definitely the most popular lions of St. Petersburg. Two handsome men with balls, standing, or even more correctly, playing on the Palace Pier no one is left indifferent. There are always more than enough people who want to hug Leva. We do not recommend that you repeat tourist bad manners and try to climb them.

Firstly, this is a monument and it is destroyed by constant physical impact, and secondly, it is simply unsafe, the lions stand quite high. Look at them, smile at their majesty and seal them in your memory. These lions, decorating the descent to the Neva in front of the Admiralty, have been at their post since 1832; they are cast from copper using the embossing method.

Now we go to two famous delightful foot bridges - Lion and Bankovsky. They both represent not only exceptional monuments of bridge-building architecture, but also incredibly bright, beautiful and elegant objects.

Both bridges span the Griboyedov Canal. Lions Bridge is located a little away from the main tourist trails, but Bankovsky is the undisputed “star” of photographs from St. Petersburg. Lions Bridge obviously got its name from the 4 lion statues that decorate the crossing. Bank Bridge, on which chains are held by lions with golden wings, was so named because of its proximity to the entrance of the State Assignment Bank. First, get to the Lions Bridge by a convenient route for you (on the way, it will probably be time for lunch, where you can organize it, see our Where to Eat section), and then along the historical canal embankment, reach the Bank Bridge. Both bridges, along with the Pochtamtsky Bridge, are also notable for the fact that there are only three chain bridges preserved in St. Petersburg. They were built in the first half of the 19th century.

From Bankovsky Bridge, continuing along the embankment of the Griboyedov Canal, we will reach entrance to the Russian Museum. Here emasculated, stately white lions await us. The lions guarding the entrance to the Mikhailovsky Palace also have balls under their paws. Where does this symbol come from? - you might reasonably ask yourself during our walk. There are several versions of why lions are usually depicted with balls. According to one version, the ball is a symbol of the sun, knowledge, strength, something whole and significant. By placing it under the lion's paw, the sculptor once again emphasizes the majesty and highest origin of the beast. According to another version, balls help lions guard. Constantly holding the ball helps the lion not to fall asleep; if the lion dozes off, the paw will weaken, the ball will roll and fall.

The next lions on the route are again unusual. They live in the Garden of Friendship on Liteiny Prospekt, 15. These are very young sculptures of lions, they settled in the city in 2003, they were donated by Shanghai, sister city, on the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg. The square itself, in which the lions are located, is very attractive and unusual, and if you are lucky enough to get there at the end of spring, then you will find not only lions, but also cherry blossoms in full bloom.

The last point on the walking part of our walk is quite far away, but it is worth the walk. 29 lions- the largest population of these animals is located in stone in front of Bezborodko's dacha on Sverdlovskaya embankment.

The magnificent fence of the former dacha of a wealthy family consists entirely of lions, which hold a single chain in their mouths. The ensemble of the fence is charming and, thanks to the fact that the lions are cast iron, it is well preserved. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the house, which was once the center of the Polustrovo hydropathic resort. However, it’s definitely worth getting to this area to see a different St. Petersburg, no longer ceremonial and touristic, but residential and industrial. And lions, who have been serving happily for more than 200 years, will become your guides.

Let's finish our lion's route at Elagin Island. It’s not by chance that we get there in the evening - we spend a mesmerizing sunset on the Western Spit of Elagin Island hugging lions. Elagin Island and Central Park of Culture and Leisure named after. Kirov is a favorite vacation spot for St. Petersburg residents. Elagin Palace - the heart of Elagin Island, was the summer imperial residence and was built according to the design of D. Quarenghi at the end of the 18th century, rebuilt by C. Rossi during the reign of Alexander I. The palace is made in the Palladian style and looks very elegant and touching. Surrounded by greenery and an atmosphere of relaxation and smiles, but attracts even more. The central staircase is decorated with 2 lion statues. They fit harmoniously into the overall ensemble of the park and make you want to hug them in a friendly way and treat them to ice cream. 2 more lions are waiting for you on the Western Spit, as you remember, to see off this great day. If you are lucky with sunny weather, you will enjoy absolutely magical views and landscapes.

A huge number of lions “live” in St. Petersburg and its environs. You will meet them in Pavlovsk, where they are almost a symbol, and in Peterhof, and in the park Konstantinovsky Palace.

Lions will have different faces, different poses, but everywhere they will serve one thing - protect you and make your holiday in St. Petersburg serene and happy.

On the Neva embankment opposite the eastern wing of the Admiralty, crowned with a slender golden spire with a boat, there is a granite Palace pier, decorated with two copper statues of guard lions with a front paw on a ball.

The lions stand, turning their heavy foreheads towards each other, on the upper ledges of a wide granite staircase descending to the water itself. Their menacing muzzles with half-open, grinning mouths and terrible fangs are unique and expressive. A wide chest, powerful paws and a slender, muscular body with a toned belly speak of the strength and dexterity of a predator. With their front paw and curved claws extended, lions rest on the ball.

These are perhaps the most popular guard lions in St. Petersburg. Finely minted from sheet copper, the regal and majestic statues of formidable animals are clearly visible from everywhere, and their profiles are clearly drawn against the background of the dark gray surface of the Neva and the pale blue of the clear sky.

Lions on Kronverksky Avenue

In St. Petersburg there are lions not only made of marble, copper and cast iron. These beauties were cast in 1915 from concrete with the addition of granite chips. They are located on the Petrogradskaya side, in the courtyard of house 5 on Kronverksky Prospekt.

These lions lurked in a quiet courtyard not far from Kshesinskaya’s mansion. The courtyard is small and quiet, and even those who have lived on Petrogradskaya all their lives usually do not know about this pair of statues.

Lion statues were installed on the Palace Pier as decoration in 1832.

Now the pier with lions is located on the Admiralty Embankment near the eastern pavilion of the Admiralty (next to the Palace Bridge). According to local historians and bloggers, these lions are the most famous lions of St. Petersburg.

After the last reconstruction, the pier with lions, located next to the Palace Bridge, forms a single architectural ensemble with its southern descent. The figures of lions are made by chasing from sheet copper; they were made in 1832 at the Alexander Iron Foundry in St. Petersburg. They were made by master I. Prang based on the model of sculptor I. P. Prokofiev. At the same plant, according to the drawings of the architect L. Charlemagne, cast iron pedestals with volutes were cast for the lions.

The Palace Pier is a wide granite staircase leading down to the Bolshaya Neva. At the top of the stairs, rising above the level of the shore, there are granite pedestals of lions. The monotony of the vertical parallelepiped of the pedestal is divided by narrow projections. The staircase descent itself is limited on the sides by a parapet of embankments, which smoothly turns into a pedestal.
The lions stand on cast-iron pedestals, turning their heavy foreheads towards each other. The menacing faces of the animals are unique and expressive - lions are depicted with half-open, grinning mouths and terrible fangs. The strength and dexterity of a predator is indicated by a wide chest, powerful paws and a slender, muscular body with a toned belly. Lions rest on the ball with their front paws with extended curved claws.
The idea of ​​​​installing lions on the Palace Pier appeared in the first project of Luigi Rusca (1717) and ran like a red thread through all design options. In the fall of 1828, an attempt was made to clarify the issue of decorative lion statues for the pier. All historical documents indicate that installation of an exact replica of the Florentine lions was considered.

By collecting material about marble lions from all over the world, it is worth paying tribute to the city where lions, griffins and sphinxes, despite the harsh climate, feel excellent, decorating gardens, parks, squares, embankments and facades of houses. We are talking about the stone guards of St. Petersburg. The article contains the most significant and beloved sculptural images of the king of beasts. Each lion is given a short description, photo and link on the map. And although the material, first of all, will be of interest to city guests who are planning routes for excursions or walks around St. Petersburg, we hope that St. Petersburg residents will also be able to discover something new for themselves.

Lions on the Palace Pier on the Admiralteyskaya Embankment.

The guard lions installed on the Palace Pier of the Admiralteyskaya Embankment are perhaps the most popular representatives of the lion community in St. Petersburg. However, few people know that this famous couple, who ascended to their pedestals in 1832, are twins of the formidable guards of the Ministry of War, the Lion Cascade of Peterhof, Elagin and Mikhailovsky Palaces who were previously born. And their very presence on the Palace Pier was decided by chance. Contrary to the established tradition of the architect C. Rossi to use copies of the famous Florentine lions embodied in cast iron, he was categorically against installing them on the pier, citing their small size and unpresentability for such a project. But the financial report of the director of the iron foundry on the cost of manufacturing statues using the molds already available at the plant tipped the scales in his favor. And by order of Sovereign Emperor Nicholas I, the decoration of the Admiralty Embankment became another pair of twin lions, cast by blowing and chasing from sheet copper, mounted on cast iron pedestals with volutes according to the design of the architect L. Charlemagne.

Cast iron lions of the Lion Bridge on the Griboyedov Canal.

A lot of time has passed since the opening of the Lion Bridge in 1825, but the massive two-meter sculptures of cast iron lions guarding this amazing pedestrian crossing invariably delight both city guests and indigenous residents of the northern capital. The impressive statues contrast sharply with the weightless fence, the openwork of which further emphasizes the strength and power of the sculptures that hide the supports of a unique architectural structure - a joint creation of engineer G. Tretter and sculptor P. Sokolov. Like many other cast iron representatives of the lion clan of St. Petersburg, the giants were cast at the St. Petersburg State Foundry. Sitting in pairs on granite pedestals with their muzzles facing each other, the guard lions of the Lion Bridge hold hanging steel ropes in their mouths, and only the paws digging into the pedestal and the tail lashed over their tense backs make passers-by understand how difficult it is to bear this burden.

Address: St. Petersburg. The intersection of the Griboyedov Canal embankment with Lion Lane.

A pair of lions near the Russian Museum.

A pair of formidable guards, towering on pedestals at the entrance to the building of the State Russian Museum, also known as the Mikhailovsky Palace, are twin brothers of the sculptures installed on the stairs of the Elagin Palace leading to the park. Mighty guard lions cast from cast iron stand in a pose already familiar to guests and residents of the city on the Neva, pressing balls that are trying to escape from their tenacious paws into the stubborn granite. Such a coincidence is not accidental, since the same architect worked on both Elagin and the Mikhailovsky Palace - C. Rossi, who was distinguished by his amazing consistency in installing pairs of lions at the main entrances of his buildings and structures, including copies of the famous Florentine lions of Piazza della signoria The cast iron guards became a kind of guard for the family of His Imperial Majesty, because the Mikhailovsky Palace was erected for the brother of the Sovereign Emperor Alexander I - Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich. The Mikhailovsky “twins” are somewhat younger than their Elagin counterparts and date back to 1824.

Address: St. Petersburg. Inzhenernaya street, 4

The famous “House with Lions” (House of Lobanov-Rostovsky).

The luxurious, majestic mansion, erected at the expense of retired colonel Prince A. Lobanov-Rostovsky, which was subsequently transferred to the Ministry of War, required no less majestic and brave guards. The powerful marble lions of the house on Admiralteysky Prospekt with rings of unruly mane spread across their muscular backs, glorified by A. Pushkin in the poem “The Bronze Horseman”, are to this day one of the most formidable guards of St. Petersburg. The support in the form of a ball gives the predatory paws a soft, graceful curve, but the impression is deceptive - the elastic fingers enveloping the ball demonstrate extended claws, and the menacing expression of the muzzle leaves no reason for jokes - lions are the most watchdog. Despite the change in the general composition and some details of the ministry guards, in their silhouette one can easily discern the lions from the Florentine Piazza della Signoria, which inspired many artists to create their own creations. Nevertheless, the ministerial sculptures are signed and clearly tell their admiring descendants the name of their creator - “Triscorni F. In Garrara, 1810”, keeping silent, however, who could afford to buy a statue of a lion made by marble craftsmen of the Triscorni family.

Address: St. Petersburg. Admiralteysky Prospekt, 12

Lions with balls from the stairs of the Elagin Palace.

Lush-maned handsome men, whose unruly curls could be the envy of the most famous beauties of the imperial court, became the first guard lions of St. Petersburg cast in cast iron. And this formidable couple saw more than many beauties, because they had the opportunity to guard, no less, the palace ordered by His Imperial Majesty Alexander I for his beloved mother. Responsibility for the construction of the palace complex was entrusted to the promising young architect K. Rossi. And he, without further ado, decided that since both ordinary St. Petersburg residents and royalty were so fond of the forms of the famous lion tandem from the main square of Florence, Piazza della signoria, then why not put up copies of them on Elagin Island. No sooner said than done. The molds for the cast-iron sculptures were made from the gilded bronze lions of the Lion Cascade of Peterhof, duplicating the popular Florentines, and by the middle of the summer of 1822, the crowned guards took their place on the wide granite abutments of the wide stone staircase leading from the palace to the park. Despite the merciless time, their powerful paws, resting on balls recessed into the pedestal, are still, as before, ready to jump, and their mouths open in a menacing roar and nostrils flaring with rage persistently recommend that visitors behave decently. An architectural monument, after all.

Address: Elagin Island. Turn right from the 1st Elagin Bridge

29 cast iron lions on the Sverdlovskaya embankment.

Perhaps the largest lion family in St. Petersburg, living “in the same territory.” The name of the creator of these good-natured, squat creatures installed on the Sverdlovsk embankment is shrouded in darkness, as is the place where the cast-iron twins were cast. Only the approximate time of their appearance is known, dating back to the end of the 1790s, when the pier area was renovated opposite the estate of A. Bezborodko, which was being rebuilt under the leadership of the architect G. Quarenghi. Petersburg has never seen such benevolent lions. Holding a sagging cast-iron chain in their teeth, the guards hospitably part three times, forming passages deeper into the estate. And at the turn of the 18th-19th centuries there was no one to make way for, because the garden of A. Bezbrodko’s estate was known as one of the favorite vacation spots of St. Petersburg residents. To this day, the Sverdlovsk embankment invariably attracts those who want to admire the cast-iron inhabitants of the Neva, who stubbornly keep the secret of the name of their creator and the number 29 he chose.

Address: St. Petersburg. Sverdlovskaya embankment, 40

Chinese lions "Shi-Tza" on Petrovskaya embankment.

Many mythical creatures are shown to guests and residents of the city of Northern Palmyra, but one of the most popular strange creatures is, of course, the Shih Tzu lions. Admiring the beauty of the city on the Neva, the inquisitive Chinese relatives of the large lion family of St. Petersburg open their huge mouth with many small teeth in surprise, rolling their goggle-eyed eyes and sticking out their powerful wide chests forward. The colossal sculptures are a gift to the city from General N. Grodekov, who sponsored the “journey” of the Manchu couple far beyond the borders of their historical homeland, which required significant financial investments. It took the 4.5-meter giants, each weighing 2.5 tons, three years to cover the path from distant Girin to Vladivostok, and then, along the waves of the deep sea, to reach St. Petersburg. They say that on such a long journey the lions were exhausted by seasickness, and the architect L. Benoit had to persuade the royal animals for a long time to settle near the water. The persuasion was crowned with success, and in 1907 the Shih Tzu were installed on the granite banks of the reconstructed Petrovskaya embankment.

Address: St. Petersburg. Petrovskaya embankment, 6

Charming granite lions at Laval's house.

Few of the guard lions manage to be glorified by artistic words, but the granite sculptures near the Laval house were lucky not only to be mentioned in N. Nekrasov’s poem “Russian Women”, but also to observe with their own eyes the brightest heads of their time - from N. Karamzin to A. Pushkin. History is silent about the exact time of the appearance of the guards of the mansion, famous for its rich collection of art objects, broadly referring them to the end of the 18th - beginning of the 19th century. Behind the veil of secrecy remains the name of the creator of the thoughtful lions, nicknamed by philosophers for the thoughtful expression of their muzzles turned to each other in a high-society conversation, covered with Egyptian scarves falling onto their shoulders. Architects J. Thomas de Thomon and A. Voronikhin worked tirelessly on the reconstruction of the Laval House, built back in 1730, often decorating their handiwork with sculptures of guard lions. However, no documents were found confirming the installation of the “philosophers” by them. That, however, does not prevent the statues near the Laval house, resting their muzzles on their relaxed crossed paws, while away the time with a casual conversation about the hardships of granite existence.

Address: St. Petersburg. English Embankment, 4

A pair of lions guard the Pavlovsk Palace.

The lion sculptures of the palace and park ensemble in Pavlovsk differ in many ways from their counterparts living in Northern Palmyra. Contrary to the established tradition of placing guard lions at the main entrance to a palace or estate, this pair is hidden from prying eyes and keeps its watch at the wings framing the main facade of the palace. And it’s only a stretch to call these representatives of the animal kingdom watchdogs. The thoughtfully sad expression of their faces and the general composition make them look like the lions-philosophers installed near the Laval house, and the detached lions at the “Voronikha” colonnades in Petrodvorets. Since the architect A. Voronikhin, who was distinguished by his constant love for paired lion sculptures, participated in the work on all three objects, such a coincidence can hardly be called accidental. However, there is no documented information about the origin of the guards of the Pavlovsk Palace, and the sculptures themselves are not very verbose.

A pair of lions from the Great Stone Staircase of Pavlovsk Park.

The habitat of these playful creatures is the palace and park ensemble in Pavlovsk, alternately built by several outstanding architects of the era: C. Cameron, C. Rossi, A. Voronikhin, G. Quarenghi and V. Brenna. However, amazing marble lions owe their appearance to the latter. V. Brenna recreated in the Russian park the views of the terraces dear to his heart with balustrades and statues, reminiscent of his native Italy. The staircase, called “Italian”, consists of several flights separated by intermediate platforms, and at the edges it is limited by granite ledges, on which small marble lions frolic, the good-natured attitude of which is radically different from most representatives of the lion family of St. Petersburg and its environs. Turning their sly faces towards each other, the animals seem to be agreeing on how they can outplay that small cast-iron couple who are perched at the bottom of the stairs and are trying to show who is the boss in the pride of lions in Pavlovsk Park. Since the end of the 18th century, the playfulness of the statues has not diminished, and they continue to delight numerous visitors to the palace and park complex.

Address: St. Petersburg, Pavlovsk, Sadovaya street, 20

Griffin statues on Bankovsky Bridge

The sculptures of the Bank Bridge are far from the only ones, but they are the most popular and, perhaps, the most beautiful representatives of the griffins that settled in St. Petersburg. The joint project of engineer G. Tretter and sculptor P. Sokolov still leaves no one indifferent, and even during its opening in 1825 the bridge created a real sensation. The choice of these mythical creatures - constant companions and guardians of untold wealth - is by no means accidental, because at the time of the design and implementation of the sculptor and architect’s plan, there was a thriving Assignation Bank not far from the bridge. The proximity of serious finances required no less serious guards. Like the lions of the Lion Bridge on the Griboedov Canal, griffins hold a powerful steel cable in their mouths, and their lean cast-iron body hides the bridge supports. The beauty of skillfully embossed eagle wings pressed to a tense torso invariably attracts curious passers-by, some of whom, in the hope of finding long-awaited wealth, leave a symbolic coin at the paws of the griffins. They say that griffins not only bring wealth, but also fulfill cherished desires. Money is useless in this case - animals need to be sincerely asked and affectionately stroked. An affectionate word is pleasant even to a cast-iron giant.

Granite sphinxes near the Academy of Arts

Without the slightest bit of exaggeration, these are the most ancient sculptures of the northern capital. Arriving on the banks of the Neva in 1832, the Egyptian guests had previously guarded the temple of Amun-Ra and the tomb of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, and this, no less, is the 15th century BC. Ancient Thebes, buried under the desert sands, and with them the sphinxes of red granite with the face of the deceased pharaoh were raised to the light of day by French archaeologists led by Monsieur J.-B. Champollion. By chance, one of the sphinxes caught the eye of the Russian traveler and chamberlain of His Imperial Majesty, A. Muravyov, who sent Nicholas I a request to purchase this miracle of Ancient Egypt, valued at the fabulous sum of 100 thousand francs. The Russian Post worked intermittently even then...Delay in response threatened to send rare sculptures to Paris, but due to the outbreak of the bourgeois revolution, the French government lost interest in buying historical values. And to the great delight of St. Petersburg residents, the sphinxes eventually went to St. Petersburg.

Address: St. Petersburg. Universitetskaya embankment, 17

Sphinxes of the Egyptian Bridge

The Egyptian Bridge became the third joint creation of the engineer G. Tretter and the sculptor P. Sokolov, but unlike the previous two - Lion and Bankovsky - it was made passable. Opened in 1826, the bridge presented to the amazed public a new trend at that time - the figures of the sphinxes of Ancient Egypt, interest in the art of which increased significantly after the military campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte. The novelty lay in the installation of sculptures not imported, but created through the efforts of local craftsmen. Known for his love of ancient art, the sculptor P. Sokolov did not change his passions, and depicted the sphinxes in the traditions of Ancient Greece rather than Egypt - with a female body smoothly turning into the powerful lean paws of a predatory beast reclining on a wide pedestal. Paying tribute to the Egyptian origins, P. Sokolov decorated the heads of the sphinxes, distinguished by their cold beauty, with the traditional headdress of the Egyptian pharaohs, the descending ends of which barely covered the naked female breast. Unlike many sculptures in St. Petersburg, these sculptures were made at the metal plant of engineer C. Byrd, who asked the lowest price for their production. Money loves counting. And during the times of Tsarist Russia, it was not customary to joke with the budget.

Address: St. Petersburg. Fontanka Embankment, 136

Sphinx statues on the Malaya Nevka embankment

Deja vu. This is the word that every St. Petersburg resident, passionate about the history of his native city, will pronounce. And every inquisitive tourist. And both will be right. The statues are exact copies of the sphinxes of the Egyptian Bridge - from the general appearance to the design features, dimensions and source material. Their appearance in their current habitat is a very confusing story. The Egyptian beauties moved to the descent to the Malaya Nevka embankment after restoration only in 1971, “traveling” to their final destination along the route - the warehouses of the Ch. Berd plant, the warehouses of the merchant Galaktionov, the house of the merchant Galaktionov on Vereiskaya Street, and then the new house of the already mentioned merchant on Mozhaiskaya street. For what reason the sphinxes that were considered unsuitable and intended to decorate the Egyptian Bridge were not sent for re-melting and were kept in factory warehouses for more than half a century is a mystery behind seven seals. As well as what prompted citizen Galaktionov to make such an acquisition. But it was precisely his whims that St. Petersburg residents owed to the appearance of another pair of beautiful mythical creatures on the banks of the Neva. And, as you know, there is never too much beauty.

Address: St. Petersburg. Malaya Nevka embankment, 11

Sphinxes on Sverdlovskaya embankment

The pier of the Sverdlovskaya embankment, equipped in the late 1790s, became a haven for two pairs of Egyptian sphinxes of gray granite, which had a soft female appearance with a head traditionally covered with a headscarf. The wonderful quartet had to get along with their famous neighbors - 29 cast-iron lions of the lion fence of A. Bezborodko’s dacha. It should be noted that the neighbors were very peaceful and led a completely peaceful coexistence. However, in the middle of the 19th century, the granite sculptures disappeared without a trace, leaving St. Petersburg residents not the slightest hint of either the reasons for the “escape” or their new place of residence. Historical justice was restored in the middle of the last century during the reconstruction of the embankment. Armed with a watercolor by the artist G. Sergeev, depicting the Bezborodko dacha, and taking as a basis the sphinxes of the Stroganov Palace on Nevsky Prospekt, stone carvers A. Osipov and L. Komarov again breathed life into the soulless blocks of gray granite, and the long-suffering Egyptian sphinxes of the Sverdlovsk embankment, returning to their pedestals , found the long-awaited peace.

Address: St. Petersburg. Sverdlovskaya embankment, 40

Two-faced sphinxes from the Robespierre embankment

Unlike most of the famous lions of northern Palmyra, the two-faced sphinxes from the Robespierre embankment are one of the youngest representatives of the large lion family of St. Petersburg, appearing on the banks of the Neva in 1995. However, despite their young age, bronze sculptures carry on their shoulders the terrible burden of a changeable fate. The creation of the sculptor M. Shemyakin serves as an ominous reminder of the shameful pages of the not so distant history of the great country - political repression, the symbol of which in that difficult period was the Kresty prison. The split faces of the sphinxes reclining on a pedestal of pink granite symbolize the coexistence of two worlds - freedom and the dungeon. A spiritualized woman’s face looks peacefully at the world of people, but the gaping eye sockets of a bare skull are facing the windows of the “Crosses”. The plaques encircling the emaciated statues with painfully protruding ribs are engraved with quotes from famous people of this world who have seen with their own eyes the bestial grin of political repression.

Address: St. Petersburg. Robespierre embankment, 12

Sphinxes in the courtyard of the Mining Institute

The sphinxes in the courtyard of the Mining Institute follow the ancient tradition of depicting these mythical creatures and appear as charming young maidens with high breasts and luxurious curls of thick hair, whose exquisite outfit and slender silhouette transforms into the body of a ferocious predator resting on powerful paws. Shrouded in a veil of mystery, the raven-colored statues lurked at the end of the alley in the depths of the ancient garden. Like true women who keep the names close to their hearts “behind seven seals,” the sphinxes of the Mining Institute never told the world the name of their creator, which was intended for the sculptors V. Demut-Malinovsky and S. Pimenov, who took part in the project of the architect A. Voronikhin, responsible for the construction of this monumental building at the beginning of the 19th century. Rumor has it that the cast-iron beauties may partly be the legacy of A. Voronikhin, known for his love of ancient art and considerable artistic talent. However, whoever was “responsible” for the appearance of sculptures at the walls of the temple of science, descendants will look at the creation of his hands with unfailing gratitude.

Address: St. Petersburg. Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment, 45

The lion family of the city on the Neva is so large that it is hardly possible to pay attention to all its worthy representatives on the first try. But the history of St. Petersburg is an inexhaustible storehouse of mysterious stories and legends associated with the emergence of large and small, famous and undeservedly forgotten guards of the northern capital, on which we will continue to collect dossiers with tireless interest. In the meantime, we flatter ourselves with the hope that the inquisitive reader, inspired by the stories presented, will go for a walk to personally meet our heroes. And if the impression of the crowned inhabitants of the Neva is so great that, at the behest of your heart, you want to invite them into your own home, we would humbly remind you that in the ArtMart stone-cutting workshop it is possible not only to buy the lions that live there, but also to make an individual order for your especially favorite sculptures.

Saint Petersburg

All paths lead...to the Palace Pier! Yes, yes, but how could it be otherwise? After all, it is here that one of the most famous and mysterious lion pairs of northern Palmyra is located, enjoying the constant popularity of guests of the city on the Neva and the well-deserved love of native St. Petersburg residents. Unlike many representatives of the lion family of the city of Peter the Great, these guard lions were destined to go down in history and be immortalized not only by word, but also by brush. It was their royal sculptures that were captured on their canvases “Palace Pier” and “View of the Neva from the Winter Palace” by famous 19th-century artists V. Sadovnikov and A. Beggrov. The 20th century was no exception, revealing to the world A. Ostroumova-Lebedev, whose illustrations to A. Pushkin’s poem “The Bronze Horseman” still excite the minds of readers, and S. Khadzhibaronov, whose “Lion at the Palace Bridge” became another evidence of considerable popularity of crowned copper sculptures.

Louis Franz Karl - Neva embankment at the western facade of the Winter Palace

The history of their appearance is full of mysterious coincidences and such twists and turns of events that they were just right to be investigated by the Secret Police of His Imperial Majesty. Without claiming to be the daily bread of the main detectives of the empire, we will still take the liberty of lifting the veil of secrecy and telling the reader some of the features of the construction of the Palace Pier and its famous lions.

When designing a pier-staircase between the Admiralty building and the Winter Palace, the court architect L. Ruska planned to decorate the descent to the Neva with graceful female figures accompanied by reclining lions. However, the project was not approved by the top officials. For mercy, Mr. Ruska, but no women! And if there are lions, then they are guard lions, and not peacefully snoring to the sound of waves crashing against the granite stronghold. After all, after the destruction of fortifications around the Admiralty, the shipbuilding center of St. Petersburg, and even located not far from the royal residence, must be protected like the apple of one’s eye!

Guard lions appeared in the decorative design project for the Palace Pier, which belonged to the architect K. Rossi, a landmark for the history of St. Petersburg, who proposed using several sculptural groups in the design: horses with watermen for the upper ledges of the descent and lions resting on a ball (a familiar silhouette, isn’t it? ), - for the lower ones. The project was approved, but... The “Horse with Driver” model created by V. Demuth-Malinovsky was far from being so successful. In return, a proposal was made to install equestrian groups on the pier, similar to the works of the French sculptor G. Coustou that decorated the Champs-Elysees. A corresponding request was sent to Paris and even a response was received, but a preliminary calculation of the cost of casting these gigantic statues nullified all the efforts of the architect. 32 thousand rubles per group - this is the figure that put an end to the brilliant idea of ​​​​designing a pier at the Admiralty.

What to do? How to be? After cross-correspondence between the architect K. Rossi, responsible for the construction and decoration of the Palace Pier, the director of the Alexander Iron Foundry M. Clark, responsible for casting the formidable guard lions, and the Minister of the Imperial Court, His Serene Highness Prince P. Volkonsky, responsible for everyone and everything, a decision was made make lions by blowing or chasing from sheet copper. Just three months later, the guard lions of the Palace Pier began their service, walking on cast iron pedestals with volutes, cast according to the design of the architect I. Charlemagne. The authorship of the copper guards belongs to... And, strictly speaking, to whom? It is with this question that the intricate story of the famous lion couple begins, whose traces lead to Peterhof.

Many guides, guiding gullible tourists along the granite banks of the Neva and demonstrating powerful figures rearing on pedestals with clawed paws digging into a massive ball, confidently name the sculptor I. Prokofiev as the author of the magnificent, lush-maned royal animals. But is this really so?

With all due respect to Ivan Prokofievich, we will have to object to the master’s personal participation in the design of the Palace Pier. For one of the most famous artists of Russia of the 19th century passed away already in February 1828, and the question of the appearance of lions became on the agenda only in the fall. And there is no need to talk about the fact that the final decision on their casting was made only 4 years later - in 1832. An inquisitive reader may assume that the lions were conceived by the sculptor a little earlier. But the last creation of Professor I. Prokofiev dates back to 1822, after which he did not work due to the paralysis of the right side of the body that befell him due to a severe apoplexy.

So where did the claim about the authorship of the stunning lions of the Palace Pier come from? In the stories of the guides, the name of the sculptor I. Prokofiev, the similarity of the lions of the Palace Pier with the lions of the Florentine Piazzadellasignoria and the statement that the guard pair was cast according to models already available at the Alexander Iron Foundry are surprisingly intertwined. At the same time, few people think that the facts presented are somewhat contradictory to each other.

To clarify, we will have to return the reader to the correspondence between the architect C. Rossi, the director of the iron foundry M. Clark and Prince P. Volkonsky. One head it's good, but two better. So, apparently, C. Rossi and P. Volkonsky thought when they decided to install a guard pair on the pier, the prototype of which was the lions made by the Triscorni family that lived in St. Petersburg at the War Ministry, reminiscent of those same notorious Florentines from Piazzadellasignoria.

But M. Clark debunked the “Napoleonic plans”, notifying that due to the change in the size of the lions, it is necessary to make new plaster models for them, which will lead to a significant increase in the cost of the project. At the same time, the factory has models of such lions, but several smaller ones. So maybe the ministry will make a decision in favor of the existing ones? And the ministry accepted it, despite all the objections of K. Rossi, who argued that the size was not impressive. The objections were not heeded, since previously the lions of the Elagin Palace, the Russian Museum, the palace in Strelna and the Arakcheevsky estate in the village of Gruzino were cast using the same molds, and neither the crowned family nor its entourage had previously shown any dissatisfaction with the size of the guards.


But what does I. Prokofiev have to do with it, if all these lions are copies of a pair installed in one of the most beautiful squares in Florence?! Our dear reader will probably ask. The fact is that all representatives of the “Lion Guard” of His Imperial Majesty, starting from the lions of the Elagin Palace and ending with the lions of the Palace Pier, were cast in the mold of the gilded bronze lions of the Lion Cascade of Peterhof, the authorship of which was attributed by some sources to Professor I. Prokofiev.

It is very interesting that at the same time, all the same sources in the materials on the construction and decorative design of the Mikhailovsky and Elagin palaces successfully forget about the sculptor’s surname and state the fact of copying the Florentine lions. Presumably, the conclusion about the authorship of the professor of the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts was made on the basis of data from a report on the work carried out for Peterhof in the Academy’s journal, which mentioned the delivery of lion forms and triton forms by I. Prokofiev from the foundry.

However, in our understanding, Ivan Prokofievich “fell victim” to the documentary confusion. Already in the next report of the Academy it is clearly indicated that the professor worked only on newts, while in relation to lions, instead of the author, only the total number of plaster forms is indicated - 15 boxes. By an amazing coincidence, just 15 boxes of plaster molds of Florentine lions from Piazzadellasignoria arrived at the Academy of Arts shortly before these events. Together with the forms of the statues of Hercules and Flora, who also went to the Lion Cascade. Are such coincidences accidental?.. Moreover, even the biographers of I. Prokofiev do not include the lions of the Lion Cascade in the creative heritage of the sculptor (and, to put it mildly, there is something to be proud of!).


Summing up the results of our, we hope, not too tedious investigation, we can only conclude that I. Prokofiev owned countless unsurpassed beauty bas-reliefs and sculptures, but this wonderful master hardly had a hand in the lions of the Palace Pier.

If the dear reader, after reading this short excursion into the history of the guard lions of St. Petersburg, wants to have the same formidable pair in his home, the ArtMart stone-cutting workshop will help make his desire come true. And introducing the new inhabitants of the house to the amazed guests, one will be able to say: “This is such a confusing story...”.