Sleeping Lion, Bronze sculpture in market square, Bytom, Poland
Sleeping Lion is a bronze statue in the market square of Bytom showing a resting lion crafted with careful detail. The work stands about 2 meters high and 1 meter wide, demonstrating skilled sculptural technique.
The sculptor Theodor Kalide created the work in 1873 to honor people who died in the Beuthen District during the Franco-Prussian War. The monument was later moved several times and spent years at Warsaw Zoo before returning to its original location in 2008.
The sculpture once spent decades away from Bytom as part of a zoo collection, which changed how people viewed and understood its role. Its return to the market square reconnected the city with a piece of its artistic identity.
The monument sits in the central market square of Bytom and is easy to reach on foot or by public transport. The square offers good orientation with other buildings and attractions nearby.
The artwork spent decades at Warsaw Zoo, where it served as part of a scientific collection. This unusual journey makes the statue an example of how monuments can take unexpected paths.
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