Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Lion Heads

Marble lion head, Canaviglia bastion, Fortezza Vecchia, Old Fortress, LivornoThis looks like a door knocker but surely it isn't: it's a marble head on the side toward the sea of the “Canaviglia” bastion of the “Fortezza Vecchia” (Old Fortress).Marble lion head, Ampolletta bastion, Fortezza Vecchia, Old Fortress, LivornoA similar lion head is placed on the “Ampolletta” bastion of the same fortress. No trace of marble heads on the third bastion, the “Capitana”. My friend Stefano says that these are marble models of the bronze originals, now in the hall of the Province of Livorno, used then to moor the ships at the walls.

10 comments:

joo said...

Wonderful, look mighty and I love the contract created by white marble and red brick!

Baruch said...

Interesting how it is made to look like the door knockers

Tinsie said...

Nice one - they really do look like oversized door knockers!

stromsjo said...

That first shot is something for any local dentist to contemplate. Powerful.

B SQUARED said...

Hard to believe they had a purpose securing ships.

amatamari© said...

Very interesting the presence of these lions on the ancient ramparts:
really beautiful, and thanks of photos and information.
This is a beautiful blog!
Bravissimo!!!
:-)

Lowell said...

I'm fascinated by the use of lions with these door knockers and marble head moorers.

Must be a symbol of strength.

Saretta said...

So many lions! Is there anything Stefano doesn't know?

cieldequimper said...

They are beautiful. But I want I real knocker! ,-)

James said...

I think they are really nice. I recently took some similar pictures. It's almost like they call out to be photographed.