The Piraeus Lion (Leone del Pireo) is one of four lion statues on display at the Venetian Arsenal, Italy. The statue is made of white marble and stands some 3 m (9 ft.) high. It is particularly noteworthy for two lengthy runic inscriptions on its shoulders and flanks; these were likely carved by Scandinavians sometime in the 11th Century AD. It lion was originally located in Piraeus harbour of Athens, but looted by Venetian naval commander Francesco Morosini in 1687 as plunder from the Great Turkish War against the Ottoman Empire. Copies of the statue can also be seen at the Piraeus Archaeological Museum and the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm.
In the second half of the 11th century, two runic inscriptions were carved onto the lion. The runes are carved in the shape of an elaborate lindworm dragon-headed scroll, in much the same style as on runestones in Scandinavia. According to Erik Brate's translation of the runes, they state they were carved by "suiar", or the Swedes. The Norsemen who carved the runes on the lion could have been Varangians, mercenaries in the service of the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Emperor, or Norsemen who travelled from Scandinavia around Europe’s Atlantic coastline.
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