Lion of Amphipolis
Λέων της Αμφίπολης
A marble lion statue from the late 4th century BCE beside the Strymonas River, about 5 meters tall. It is one of the most famous ancient monumental sculptures in Macedonia.
The Lion of Amphipolis stands on the west bank of the Strymonas River, beside the old national road. It is a marble tomb monument from around the end of the 4th century BCE, and scholars generally link it to one of Alexander the Great's generals, with suggestions including Nearchus or Laomedon. The original lion was discovered in the riverbed by Greek and British soldiers during the Balkan Wars of 1912–1913. In the 1930s it was reassembled from fragments and placed on a pedestal at its current site. Including the base, the monument is about 8 meters tall, and the lion sits upright with its head held high and an imposing presence. Admission is free, and there is roadside parking. A visit takes 10 to 20 minutes. It is about 50 km from Kavala, roughly 40 minutes west along the Egnatia Odos highway. It can be combined with the nearby ancient city of Amphipolis and its museum, or stopped at on the way to or from Thessaloniki.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Ancient Amphipolis
- Alistrati Cave
- Ammolofoi Beach
- Baptistery of St. Lydia
- Archaeological Site of Philippi
- Batis Beach
- Kalamitsa Beach
- Archaeological Museum of Kavala