Stripes – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetry, Thursday Doors
Main Entrance, Genoa Cathedral (St. Lawrence Cathedral), Genoa, Italy. Image credit: © Alefra1994 | Dreamstime

silent witnesses

stone lions guard love’s legend

hidden in stripes

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**Featured Door: San Lorenzo (Genoa Cathedral), Genoa, Italy’s Main Entrance.

Main Entrance Genoa Cathedral, Genoa Italy. Image credit: © Bapaume | Dreamstime

Two lion marble sculptures (nicknamed: Leo) guard Genoa Cathedral’s (circa 1118 A.D.) entrance steps. Created by artist Carlo Rubatto (1840 A.D.), each lion is approximately 2 meters (6.5 feet) long. The lions are famous for their uniquely sculptured facial expressions. An image of one of them is below:

Marble sculpture of the right side of the main entrance, Genoa Cathedral. Image credit: © Nevena Janjic | Dreamstime

Trivia#1: More famous than the lions–is the legend, and persistent rumor that a hidden dog sculpture (carved by a cathedral worker in memory of his dog that passed away) on the right side of the Genoa Cathedral’s doorway is considered a symbol of luck in love.

Couples often visit the cathedral in search of this sculpture and upon finding it, touch it for good fortune. The sculpture is well-worn over centuries of human hand contact as you can see from the image below.

Genoa Cathedral façade’s dog sculpture. Image credit: Thomas | Wikimedia CC 3.0

Trivia #2: Rumor has it that the opulent marble in this cathedral was collected/donated from the ships that made Genoa their home port during Genoa Cathedral’s centuries-long construction.

For the stripes of the Romanesque facade and interior columns, Genoa Cathedral builders sourced the white marble from the local region and the black marble from Tuscany.

Genoa Cathedral, wider angle is below

Genoa Cathedral, Genoa, Italy. Image credit: © Lorpic99 | Dreamstime

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Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

40 thoughts on “Stripes – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors”

  1. A perfect set of doors this week, and great haiku too. Although I have stayed in Genoa in my youth, I didn’t get to explore and missed out on this beautiful cathedral.

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  2. Pingback: Stripes – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  6. The sculptured lions give me the feeling of imperial Rome, even though the cathedral is situated in the metropolitan city of Genoa.
    The eyes of the lion on the right side are soft and gentle though, guarding love’s legend (exquisite line)
    I think if I were visiting the cathedral on the arm of a love, I too would be inclined to stroke the sculpture of the dog.

    Stunning marble

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    1. Your point is quite astute regarding imperial Rome. Genoa’s origins predate the Roman empire, an empire that absorbed Genoa into its borders during the early centuries, A.D.
      Those lions are an outstanding work of art, great skill, and presentation!!
      Totally agree about the sculpture of the dog.
      Glad you enjoyed the share. Its a pleasure.
      Peace to you!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh I see, the Genoa lions have such soft eyes, hence they cannot be the lions of imperial Rome.
        I always associate these open air theatres in imperial Rome with lions and prisoners or other captives who were brought in with chariots to fight each other in the arena. Most times they had to fight the beast with bare hands as the record goes, hence my reference.
        Beautifully sculptured lions
        The story of the dog is so lovely too.
        I did, peace to you too.

        Like

  7. That’s truly a magnificent entrance, Suzette. I love the hidden dog. I hope young lovers don’t wear it out. The expression on the lion’s face is amazing. I can’t imagine having the vision to think of that and the talent to bring it out of stone. Your haiku captures the best of this beautiful cathedral and its folklore.

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    1. Thank you, Dan. It’s a pleasure to share the foklore and stories of the doors and their related architectural uniqueness. There is much foklore in Genoa…it being the oldest inhabited city in Italy…
      The dog sculpture is a beautiful legend. Glad you liked it. I love the unusual lions and their less-fierce expression…You are right that kind of sculpting took great vision and skill.

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