Lions on the Neva embankment. Guard lions on the Admiralty Embankment. Sphinx statues on the Malaya Nevka embankment

Music: Jean - Yves Thibaudet - Love Letters

St. Petersburg can well be called the lion city,
after all, these representatives of the cat family -
from cast iron, plaster, marble and copper -
A great multitude scattered along the streets of St. Petersburg!

* * *


At Kushelev's dacha - Bezborodko.

right there...
I heard somewhere that the building is guarded by 22 lions.
For some reason I counted 24, namely:
on one side there are 12, and I mean that on the other - the same...))

How many are there really?

Here's what one official source says:
"29 cast-iron lions sat in one long row along the metal lattice fencing the territory of the former
estate of A.G. Kushelev-Bezborodko.
The lion portcullis was built in the late 1790s at the same time as the pier, guarded by four sphinxes.
The lions are located near house No. 40 on Polyustrovskaya embankment.
Previously, they held a cast-iron chain in their mouths." ...... How awesome!))

Bank bridge on the Griboyedov Canal

A little bit of history:

The suspension bridge itself was built in 1825-1826 according to the design of Wilhelm von Tretter. And the bridge owes the appearance of griffins to P.P. Sokolov.
Now the question arises. Why were griffins placed on the Bank Bridge?
The fact is that the bridge is located in front of the building of the former Assignation Bank. And according to mythology, the duty of griffins is to guard treasures. So these lions with eagle wings guarded the gold reserves of the Russian State. By the way, there is a belief among the townspeople that if you rub the griffin’s paw, wealth will not pass you by.
I suggest checking it out if necessary. ;) If this is true, then in the very near future you will be able to buy a tour to Dombay and spend an unforgettable vacation there.))

right there...


Right there...
Bank bridge -
one of the most beautiful places in St. Petersburg, isn’t it?))
* * * * *

Palace pier.

The very first king of beasts arrived in St. Petersburg back in 1722
from Venice - Peter I ordered it for a sculpture symbolizing the victory of Russia over Sweden (this monument is still displayed in the Summer Garden).

But most of the lion sculptures appeared in St. Petersburg in the 19th century - then it was fashionable for homeowners to decorate the gates or steps of mansions with a couple of respectable animals. In addition to houses, predators guard the descents to the Neva and numerous bridges,
however, the most famous St. Petersburg lions settled

In 1832 on the Palace Pier opposite the Admiralty.

These copper sculptures were made according to the drawings of Carlo Rossi, and since they are paired, they are not boring - especially since the creators provided them with balls that you can play with when no one is looking.
But in front of witnesses, lions behave very seriously:
they release their claws and bare their teeth.
* * *

Palace pier.
Admiralty Embankment, next to the Palace Bridge.

right there...

right there...

right there...
* * *

Lion Bridge at Malaya Podyacheskaya Street,
Griboedov Canal

there

right there...

right there...

* * *

Shuvalovsky Park, building 1

right there...

In Peterhof

Datsan. Primorsky Avenue, 91.

Shi-Dza (Chinese lion from Manjuria).
Petrovskaya Embankment, next to the Museum "House of Peter the Great"

Manezhnaya Square, Karavannaya Street, building 1.

On Malaya Sadovaya at the entrance to the Vietnamese restaurant "Mekong"

University embankment.
* * *

****

Moika Embankment, 59,
Eliseevsky Palace Hotel

Ibid.
***

Makarova embankment, building 4

there

there
* * *

Nevsky Prospekt, 72,
at the entrance to the "Red Terem" hotel
* * *

Pavlovsk is a suburb of St. Petersburg.
Large stone staircase.

right there...

there
* * *

Veteranov Avenue, 109.

G. Pushkin is a suburb of St. Petersburg.

Guard lion on St. Isaac's Square.
* * *

Russian Ethnographic Museum.
A gift from the State of Israel to St. Petersburg for the 300th anniversary of the city.
Sculpture: length - 3m, width - 2.5 m, height - 2 m

At the Elagin Palace.

Near the building of the Nikolaev Military Academy.
/the author of the photo claims that this is the only LYING lion in St. Petersburg.
But as things progressed, I became convinced that this was not the case!)) /

* * *


Russian Museum, also known as Mikhailovsky Castle

right there...


right there...
* * *
But here are several lions, whose addresses are unknown to me,
or the lions are simply unrecognized.
I would be grateful if you could tell me!))

№ 1

№ 2

№ 3

№ 4


At the entrance of some cafe...
...pathetic parody! But this is a personal opinion...

* * * Lions on the facade of buildings. * * *
Unfortunately, I cannot provide all addresses.
Let's just admire it!

Coat of arms of Yusupov at the Yusupov Palace

Kamennoostorovsky prospect, house 9\2

...however, the grille of the bridge...(but which one? - Tell me!)

He was nicknamed "The Kissing Lion"))
I don't remember the address exactly. It seems to be on Petropavlovka..
(Who knows, tell me!)

But what about sphinxes and griffins?
Let's classify them as lions too!))

The king of beasts at the crossing

Winged creatures

House with lions

Lions at Elagin Palace

Chinese lions Shih Tzu

Lion Pack

Lions on the Palace Pier

Peterhof Lion

Northern Palmyra is inhabited by a variety of creatures: mysterious sphinxes look at passers-by from the embankments, variegated owls open their beaks from the walls of palaces, dragons beat their tails, bats, horses, and little Siskin-Pyzhik stand frozen in silence. There are also lions - there are a lot of giant cats in the cultural capital: plaster, marble, carved from granite, bright, faded, filigree, simple, modern and at least 200 years old. But first things first.

According to mythology, the lion is a leader and wise ruler, endowed with power, courage, courage and greatness. He personifies power, fire, the luminary of the day. Exactly when the fashion for decorating shelters and streets with predators arose is unknown: according to one version, this passion manifested itself during the reign of Peter I, who encountered similar stone creations in Europe. Superstitious Europeans in the Middle Ages came to the conclusion that lions are excellent guards, since they sleep with their eyes open, and therefore will not let demons under the roof. According to another theory, sculptural images of these animals became widespread in the nineteenth century, when Russian architects paid attention to Italian art and the work of ancient geniuses, who often carved lush manes, tenacious claws and powerful lean bodies from stone. Let's remember where in our region you can meet amazing creatures.

The king of beasts at the crossing

“Bridge with lions in St. Petersburg?” - this is about the pedestrian Lion Bridge, thrown across the Griboyedov Canal in the Admiralteysky district. The river crossing was built in 1825. During the same period of time, Academician Pavel Petrovich Sokolov took up the creation of alabaster forms for future monuments. Each of the noble beauties serves not only as decoration: the two-meter snow-white statues contain hidden mechanisms that hold the bridge span and the people on it. The stability of the structure is given by the weighty slabs that serve as the base of the levoshkas.

The suspended crossing was liked not only by local people: 10 years later, the German company Borsig erected a small copy of the bridge in Tiergarten, one of the parks in Berlin. The project was developed by urban planner Ludwig Hesse. You can still see this wooden structure today.

Winged creatures

The beloved lions with wings in St. Petersburg are located on the Bank Bridge. In fact, they are often called griffins, but there are also those who disagree with this term, because according to legend, these fairy-tale characters had the head of a bird, but the sculptures on the Griboyedov Canal do not have such a feature.

The opening of the Bank Bridge took place 25 days after the launch of the Lion's Bridge; the same architects and sculptors were involved in the construction of the elegant structure. The principle of the device is the same as that of its older brother: the exquisite spans are held by chain links, which are reinforced in the sculptures. Here you can admire not only the magical griffin lions, but also the landscapes: from the deck there is a magnificent view of the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, the Kazan Cathedral and the Singer House, emerald plantings around gray granite and calm, slightly greenish ripples of water, in which proud guardians of justice are reflected .

House with lions

Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin wrote about them in his poem “The Bronze Horseman”: “The guard lions stood with raised paws, as if alive.” Of course, we are talking about the amazing guards who hold sloping stone balls with their paws at the Lobanov-Rostovsky House on St. Isaac's Square. Unique individuals, striking with their graceful and majestic appearance, were born in Italy: master Paolo Triscorni worked under the southern sun to create chiseled lines.

In the 21st century, in an elegant palace complex designed by the famous architect Auguste Montferrand, there is a deluxe hotel, whose guests are guarded every night by noble cats.

Lions at Elagin Palace

At the delightful Elagin Palace, on granite pedestals, there are two cast-iron sculptures of lions, whose paws rest on hemispheres. From a distance they seem to be twins: a shock of shaggy hair, a mysterious half-grin, half-smile, but if you look at the figures closer, the differences will become obvious: they exist both in position and in appearance. They were manufactured in 1822 at the St. Petersburg State Foundry.

Chinese lions Shih Tzu

These unusual sculptures were petrified on Petrovskaya Embankment not far from the house of Peter the Great. Massive figures weighing 2.5 tons come from Manchuria: they moved to their new place of residence in 1907, when they were presented to Petrograd as a gift.

In China, frog lions are required to guard the family hearth, and therefore are carved and installed at least in pairs. The lion father, as the head of the dynasty, holds a ball symbolizing light, knowledge, wealth, and his companion, the lion mother, supports the lion cub: the open mouth of the wife of the head of the animal kingdom drives away evil spirits from her child, who will continue the family line.

Initially, it was assumed that the freedom-loving predators would decorate the temple-oratory of General Chan in the Chinese city of Girin, but after the death of the official, the newly-minted governor decided to present the lions as a gift to the Amur Governor-General Nikolai Ivanovich Grodekov, who, in turn, transferred them to the capital of the Russian Empire.

Other favorite oriental animals that have settled in St. Petersburg are the Shanghai lions, presented to the city for its 300th anniversary. They live in the Garden of Friendship on Liteiny Prospekt.

Lion Pack

The largest population of these graceful representatives of the cat family can be found in front of Bezborodko's dacha on the Sverdlovskaya embankment. 29 lions are connected by a heavy cast iron chain. The mansion itself was built back in 1773-1777, but was then rebuilt several times. Stone guards were installed in front of the manor at the beginning of the 19th century. The possible author of the sculptures is considered to be Nikolai Aleksandrovich Lvov.

By the way, in the 70s of the 20th century, the film “The Incredible Adventures of Italians in Russia” was filmed near the luxurious dacha. The heroes of the film tried to find the treasure under the lions! Remember this moment?

Lions on the Palace Pier

However, according to local historians, the most popular lions in the city are the brave creatures near the Admiralty pavilion. Cast iron sculptures stand on high pedestals, turning their large shaggy heads towards each other. Their mouths are bared, either in a terrible roar, or in a satisfied rumbling, sharp, terrifying fangs stick out... Powerful muscular bodies are frozen in a tense pose, one paw with extended claws rests on a ball.

By the way, about balls - many of the royal animals are actually depicted with a sphere under their paw, and there is an explanation for this. The fact is that lions are called upon to protect a person’s home from the encroachment of evil forces. But what happens if the guard falls asleep? For such a case, a ball is needed: when the lion plunges into the longed-for slumber and relaxes a limb, the ball begins to roll. Feeling the movement, the King of all animals throws off the shackles of sleep in order to continue to observe his service.

The lions that can be seen on the Palace Pier were present in the very first projects of this location, the development of which was carried out by the architect Luigi Rusca in 1717. However, the sculptures were sculpted only a hundred years later: in 1832, master Prang, based on the model of the sculptor I. P. Prokofiev, created the now famous images. In September of the same year they decorated the pier, where they remain to this day.

These lions, it should be noted, were taken away for restoration several times: tourists and St. Petersburg residents themselves love to climb onto the backs of the statues. Thus, one of the last unscheduled reconstructions took place in 2006, when multiple cracks appeared along the torso of one of the animals: probably, a clumsy rider broke the thin sheet of copper from which the lions are made. “Rescuers” quickly arrived at the scene of the incident: restorers dressed in white medical coats examined their non-trivial “patient”, carefully bandaged the mutilated torso, and then, using a crane, loaded him onto a KAMAZ, which was disguised as an ambulance. While the monument was forced to undergo a health course in the workshop, its place was taken by a yellow plastic copy - the lion “Boniface”. When the substitute was sold, a miracle of balloons was installed in the empty space.

The image of this pair of “court” lions can be found on the 2003 coins, which were minted for the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg.

Peterhof Lion

Another famous lion is part of the central fountain of Peterhof - “Samson tearing the mouth of the lion”. However, what we see is not the original of the monumental statue: it was lost during the devastating Great Patriotic War. The restored ensemble, on which sculptors V. Simonov and N. Mikhailov worked, was opened in 1947.

Of course, these are not all the predatory inhabitants of our region: several silent exhibits can also be found in front of building number 12 on Admiralteysky Prospekt, near the Russian Museum, on the Western Spit of Elagin Island and in other quarters.

It is worth adding that, as is the case with many other mystical creatures, many legends and superstitions are associated with lions. For example, there is a popular belief in society that if you kiss a lion, he will give you good luck in love and pursuits! And some of them are able to make wishes come true: just rub the lion’s paw or nose, walk around the statue, and then whisper to it about your most cherished dream.

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.

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 heavy this burden is to bear.

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 red granite sphinxes 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.

Two lions on the Admiralty Embankment near the Palace Bridge are the most famous lions of St. Petersburg. They are installed to the right and left of the descent to the Neva. From the moment the city was built, the Admiralty played an important role in its life. Here ships descended on the Neva, and raw materials were supplied through these gates. The sculptures of a lion, made in 1832 in St. Petersburg at the Aleksandrovsky Iron Foundry, are empty inside, and made by chasing from sheet copper. Based on the model of the sculpture of I. P. Prokofiev, they were made by master I. Prang. Cast iron pedestals according to the drawings of the architect L. Charlemagne were cast at the same plant. During the Great Patriotic War, the lions remained in their places. They were practically unharmed. According to one of the legends about St. Petersburg, the place around the Admiralty has an unusual aura, unusual energy, so walking here is good for your health. Perhaps this unusual energy saved the lions from fascist shells during the harsh war years of 1941-1945. However, in 2006, specialists
discovered damage to famous sculptures. The back of the sculpture of the lion closest to the Palace Bridge could not withstand the numerous people who liked to sit on its back and caved in. Experts suggested installing a durable frame inside the sculpture. IN
In 2007, the sculpture of the second lion was restored. When restoring St. Petersburg sculptures, it is very important to carefully treat the surface, because the paint and varnish coating lasts 3-4 years in the St. Petersburg climate. /Sergey Scriabin, Russia, Kaliningrad/