Terrace of the Lions

Delos is a tiny island near Mykonos, with a rich history that has led to its listing as UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was considered the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, two Olympian Gods. As a result, ever since antiquity Delos became a religious and cultural hub in Cyclades complex and Greece.

The Lion Gate (Greek: Πύλη των Λεόντων) is the popular modern name for the main entrance of the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae in Southern Greece. It was erected during the thirteenth century BC, around 1250 BC, in the northwestern side of the acropolis.

All of this makes you wonder if lions ever really existed in Europe. We know for certain that lions certainly lived in Anatolia until some point in the past; they may have gone extinct only as the result of actions by the Romans, who captured them for use in the arena.