Clever Magazine, Vol. IV, #12 "Lions in Greece " (www.clevermag.com)

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The lion statue investigation continues:

Greek Lion Statues
a photo essay by Carrol Chrys

This lion stands guard outside the new Athens Airport. Apparently, when the site for the airport was being excavated, the workers came across this magnificent statue, dating from early BC!

This is called "The Laughing Lion."
You can find him on the Greek island of Delos,
which is a very small but important island.

Here's another Greek lion statue presently residing in the
Antiquities Museum on Delos.

Here's a poem Carrol would like to share with us.

Ithaca by Constantine Cavafy

When you set out on your journey to Ithaca pray that the road is long, full of adventure, full of knowledge.

Pray that the road is long -- That the summer mornings are many, when, with such pleasure, with such joy

You will enter ports seen for the first time; stop at Phoenician markets, and purchase fine merchandise,

Mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony,

And sensual perfumes of al kinds…visit many European cities, to learn and learn from scholars.

Always keep Ithaca in your mind. To arrive there is your ultimate goal. But do not hurry the voyage at all.

It is better to let it last for many years; and to anchor at the island when you are old, rich with all you have

Gained on the way, not expecting that Ithaca will offer you riches.

Ithaca has given you the beautiful voyage. Without her you would never have set out on the road.

She has nothing more to give you.

And if you find her poor, Ithaca has not deceived you. Wise as you have become, with so much experience,

You must already have understood what these Ithacas mean.

Carrol Chrys is a frequent contributor to Clever Magazine. She took these photos while accompanying her husband on a recent trip to Greece. Apparently, the lion was symbolic to the Greeks too. We must wonder whether real lions were commonly found on the islands at some earlier period of history.

If you'd like to see the archive of Clever's lion statue investigations, click here! And of course, if you'd like to share your lion statue information with us, just contact the editor@clevermag.com