Gdansk's Lions, Polish Legend

Gdansk once was part of the Hanseatic League due to its location by the sea. The league was composed of merchants, who controlled the trade in their towns along the Northern coast of Europe. The profits from the trade allowed them to invest in their interests. They left a legacy of monumental and breath-taking architecture. Gdansk prospered as well attracting development of arts. Many artists came to leave their mark here. Among them were outstanding sculptors. The legend brings one of them.

Some centuries ago there lived Daniel, who was a local sculptor in Gdansk. He was considered one of the best. His carvings were jaw-dropping, almost looking alive. His favorite subjects were lions. Maybe, because he made them look so alive that it was almost surprising that they were not roaring.

One day, the mayor of the city decided to decorate the Town Hall at the Long Market with a new coat of arms. The market in Gdansk was called long and not square as in most towns, because it was built in a shape of rectangle and not square. The coat of arms representing Gdansk were two lions facing each other and protecting the crown. And who would be the best candidate for this, if not the beloved sculptor Daniel.

Those times were unsteady times for Poland. Other rulers wanted to take over Poland. Gdansk was a well situated and well developed port city. So it would have been a great addition to the lands of any country.

Daniel worked very hard and as fast as he could. The chisel and hammer made noises from dawn till dark. Many times, while shaping the lions, he thought and worried about Poland. He knew that the lions were protecting the Polish crown, but wasn’t sure if help would come just in time to save the country from the enemy. Sometimes, he was so immersed in his concerns not noticing peeking nosy neighbors.

There were always some who couldn’t resist waiting till the official ceremony. One would whisper, “Did you see the lions’ paws? The claws look as they’re about to scratch somebody.” “No,” murmured the other, “Did you see the lions’ long tails as they were about whipped somebody.” And the whispers and murmurs went on and on.

When the sculpture was finished, a big celebration was prepared to unveil the new coat of arms. The townspeople dressed nicely for this occasion and gathered at the Long Market awaiting anxiously the big moment.

The mayor pulled the veil and the first reaction was, “Ah” – how amazed people were. But the second reaction was, “Oh”- there was something wrong with the carving. “Did Daniel forget how the coat of arms looks like?” yelled one. “This is a mockery!” revolted another.

The truth was that the lions were not looking at each other as they were supposed to. They were looking in the direction of the Golden Gate. “This is a tragedy,” lamented an older woman. Daniel assured everyone that there was no mistake. He explained, “The lions’ heads are towards the Golden Gate, which leads to the Royal Road. They are awaiting the Polish rulers to come and protect our city.”

The townspeople turned their heads simultaneously at the Golden Gate. “Our Daniel never disappoints,” people nodded in approval.

The long awaited help didn’t come. Poland disappeared from the map for over hundred years. One day, when flowers were opening their petals to bloom in the spring and the waves of the Baltic Sea were splashing into the Polish shores, the lions opened their manes and roared. The Poland has come back and Gdansk returned to Poland for good.