Impressive beasts sit on  their hind legs with their tail between their legs,projecting the front part of their bodies. Thus,framing the avenue guarding it in a manner befitting the  holy places of the East and Egypt and causing divine awe in the visitor,as true guardians of the sanctuary.

Of the sixteen original fearsome lions ,only nine have survived , some whole and others torn asunder.  One which was transferred to Venice, in the 17th century ,   now has a new, unmatched head in front of the dockyard of the Serenissima.

Source : (Delos – Mykonos C.Tsakos)