Kea - Lion of Kea

Lion of Kea is the biggest tourist attraction in Kea. I do not think anyone leaving the island without having seen the laughing lion. Before I saw the lion on the spot I had seen it in many pictures, I thought it did not looked so strange, but once I stood there I could not do anything but be impressed. The lion was a lot bigger than I had thought and the smile was really a smile.

The lion was carved out of a granite cliff about 600 BC. There is no explanation why someone carved it, nor why the lion smiles so subtle. The fact is that the lion is one of the strangest sights I have seen in Greece. It stays there all alone and grins. For what? When you stand here it raises many questions: Why do cut out a lion? Why on Kea? Why in this place? Why only a lion, why not two? No answers unfortunately, and perhaps this is why the lion is so fascinating. Like the Mona Lisa and her enigmatic smile. Back »