The Porta di Terra
The entrance of the Arsenale, known as Porta di Terra.
With the fall of Constantinople (1453) and the subsequent Turkish threat in the Mediterranean, the monumental Porta di Terra (1460), which alluded to the role of Venice as a bulwark of Christianity, and the two towers that flank the water entrance were erected. It was the first Classical revival structure built in Venice.
High above the door, there is a statue of Santa Giustina, placed after the victory of the Lepanto battle (1571).
The gate is adorned with eight allegorical statues wich represent: Wealth, Guard, goddess Bellona, Neptune, Mars and Justice; the last two statues have not been recognized.
As you enter, you are in Command Square. From here you enter to the Historical Library and the Institute of Military Maritime Studies of Venice.
Two lions taken from Greece situated beside it (Morosini's war booty) were added in 1687. One of the lions, known as the Piraeus Lion, is notable for the runic defacements carved in it by Scandinavian mercenaries hired by Byzantines during the eleventh century.
The inscriptions have been eroded by the weather and air pollution, which have made difficult to read some of his characters. The gaps in the text were therefore filled by the interpreters through assumptions and inferences about their meaning, based on those remaining legible. Here are the two inscriptions and the translation (the rdeable letters are in bold, the others were reconstructed):
Lion's right side:
- ASMUDR : HJU : RUNAR : ÞISAR : ÞAIR : ISKIR : AUK: ÞURLIFR : ÞURÞR : AUK : IVAR : AT : BON : HARADS : HAFA : ÞUAT : GRIKIAR : UF : HUGSAÞU : AUK : BANAÞU :
- Asmund cut these runes with Asgeir and Thorleif, Thord and Ivar, at the request of Harold the Tall, though the Greeks considered about and forbade it.
Lion's left side:
- HAKUN : VAN: ÞIR : ULFR : AUK : ASMUDR : AUK : AURN : HAFN : ÞESA : ÞIR : MEN : LAGÞU : A : UK : HARADR : HAFI : UF IABUTA : UPRARSTAR : VEGNA : GRIKIAÞIÞS : VARÞ : DALKR : NAUÞUGR : I : FIARI : LAÞUM : EGIL : VAR : I : FARU : MIÞ : RAGNARR : TIL : RUMANIU . . . . AUK : ARMENIU :
- Hakon with Ulf and Asmund and Örn conquered this port. These men and Harold Hafi imposed a heavy fine on account of the revolt of the Greek people. Dalk is detained captive in far lands. Egil is gone on an expedition with Ragnar into Romania and Armenia.
High above the door, there is a statue of Santa Giustina, placed after the victory of the Lepanto battle (1571).
The gate is adorned with eight allegorical statues wich represent: Wealth, Guard, goddess Bellona, Neptune, Mars and Justice; the last two statues have not been recognized.
As you enter, you are in Command Square. From here you enter to the Historical Library and the Institute of Military Maritime Studies of Venice.
Two lions taken from Greece situated beside it (Morosini's war booty) were added in 1687. One of the lions, known as the Piraeus Lion, is notable for the runic defacements carved in it by Scandinavian mercenaries hired by Byzantines during the eleventh century.
The inscriptions have been eroded by the weather and air pollution, which have made difficult to read some of his characters. The gaps in the text were therefore filled by the interpreters through assumptions and inferences about their meaning, based on those remaining legible. Here are the two inscriptions and the translation (the rdeable letters are in bold, the others were reconstructed):
Lion's right side:
- ASMUDR : HJU : RUNAR : ÞISAR : ÞAIR : ISKIR : AUK: ÞURLIFR : ÞURÞR : AUK : IVAR : AT : BON : HARADS : HAFA : ÞUAT : GRIKIAR : UF : HUGSAÞU : AUK : BANAÞU :
- Asmund cut these runes with Asgeir and Thorleif, Thord and Ivar, at the request of Harold the Tall, though the Greeks considered about and forbade it.
Lion's left side:
- HAKUN : VAN: ÞIR : ULFR : AUK : ASMUDR : AUK : AURN : HAFN : ÞESA : ÞIR : MEN : LAGÞU : A : UK : HARADR : HAFI : UF IABUTA : UPRARSTAR : VEGNA : GRIKIAÞIÞS : VARÞ : DALKR : NAUÞUGR : I : FIARI : LAÞUM : EGIL : VAR : I : FARU : MIÞ : RAGNARR : TIL : RUMANIU . . . . AUK : ARMENIU :
- Hakon with Ulf and Asmund and Örn conquered this port. These men and Harold Hafi imposed a heavy fine on account of the revolt of the Greek people. Dalk is detained captive in far lands. Egil is gone on an expedition with Ragnar into Romania and Armenia.
