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2008-10-02

hungry lion

Sweden and lions go hand in hand, you find them everywhere: sculptures, coats of arms, buildings, trash cans ... This is an especially peaceful apple eating lion found on Kungsholmen.

Kungsholmstorg (map) 23 August 2008 | others bloggar

14 comments:

Jill said...

Very nice! I didn't know that about Sweden

Tanya Breese said...

For some reason now I've got "Hungry Like the Wolf" playing in my head :)
I would love to see a lion trashcan!

Jennifer said...

Strange, I've passed Kungsholmstorg twice a day for 3 years and never seen that little lion. Makes me wonder what else I've missed =)

Carrie Flicka said...

Goodag! What is the significance of the Lion to Sweden? By the way, nice touch with the apple. He looks content now. Maybe he won't try to eat any passersby.

Halcyon said...

He looks like a cute little kitty. Awww...

Pia K said...

Nice one! Haven't seen that one before, I guess I have to pop by.

carrie flicka - Perhaps we're just a cat loving people - cats in all shapes and sizes - or it might have something to do with "the Swedish tiger" campaign during WW II,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En_svensk_tiger

Whatever reason, there are quiet a few catshaped sculptures and art throughout the city, and me like, a lot:)

Carrie Flicka said...

Thank you pia k, I'm a cat lover myself. I have a big, fat, mean cat that loves me despite the fact that I'm human.

Kiwi said...

According to our friends at Wikipedia, the first known heraldic use of the lion in Sweden was on the royal seals of Erik Knutsson (died 1216) and Erik Eriksson (1216–50), who used two and three lions on their seal, respectively. The first king of the Folkunga family, Valdemar Birgersson (1239–1302), also used 3 lions on his seal.

Even today we have two lions on the (greater) Coat of arms of Sweden.

So why lions? I think it was believed that the lions strength was transferred to the King.

Tanya: If you click on the link in the caption you will see the lion can.

Jennifer: It's a shocking thought.

Thank you all for commenting.

Oh, almost forgot: I didn't put that apple there.

Stefan Jansson said...

Ha. That's a cool lion.

Unknown said...

Very cool pic of the lion and the apple! :-)

Copenhagen said...

This is cute.

Järnladyn said...

Haha, nice shot! One wonder though, if it wasn't you yourself that ate the apple and just left the remains for the poor lion. ;)

Kiwi said...

Järnladyn: If one is going to walk into the lion's den, one should not take away the lion's dinner. (Yes Prime Minister, BBC)

Bernt Seipl said...

I've been there a few times too, but I haven't noticed the lion either. Well captured.

Your daily dose of Stockholm, Sweden - click on pictures to enlarge!