Lion of Saint Marks

The Lion of Saint Marks was seen by my wife and I on a tall pedestal monument and on churches in Venice, Italy.  We also saw it on a church in Rome, Italy.  It is a lion with wings and is often depicted holding a bible...or one paw is on an open bible.  It is the symbol of Venice...formerly the Republic of Venice.  Did you know that Venice had a bit of an empire for a while?  Their influence was felt as far away as Croatia.  .    .  probably even farther away.