Greetings from Budapest
The lions on the Chain Bridge
The four stone lions that guard the entrances to the Chain Bridge in Budapest are very like the bronze ones in London’s Trafalgar Square. There are several legends attached to them. One legend tells that they are the guardians of Hungary and will come to life if ever the country is threatened. Another says that soon after their unveiling people began to comment that the lions were lacking tongues. The sculptor, János Marschalkó, responded that they do have tongues but they can’t be seen. However the criticism persisted and he became so upset by the criticism that he considered committing suicide by jumping from the bridge. In one version of this legend he goes ahead with the jump; in another version he has second thoughts and doesn’t go through with it. But whatever the truth behind the lions’ appearance I rather liked them.
3 Comments
restlessjo
They’re nicely ferocious, aren’t they? xx
Sue
I be been over that bridge oh good few years ago but I don’t remember any tongueless lions!
Sarah Wilkie
There are four of them – two at each end!