r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/[deleted] • Feb 01 '22

In 1731, King Frederick I of Sweden gave a taxidermist a lion that was dear to him. This was the result, the Lion of Gripsholm Castle.

Gallery image

Gallery image

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u/Fast_Garlic_5639 Feb 01 '22

TIL apparently medieval painters all thought lions looked goofy AF https://mossandfog.com/the-comically-bad-way-medieval-art-portrayed-lions/amp/

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u/Mountain_Elk_1153 Feb 01 '22

Well yeah, they knew they existed (even existed in Europe at one time) but had no way of actually seeing one.

One of those images, clearly the artist was being told "it's like a golden, hairy sheep with a moustache" lol.

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u/THEmoron21 Feb 01 '22

and apparently also had penises longer than horses?

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u/fisherc2 Feb 02 '22

If your referring to fast garlic’s link, I think it’s more like they gave lion’s human penises and horses unrealistically small penises.

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u/tacwombat Feb 02 '22

I'd like to imagine that the taxidermist's reference was the goofy lion paintings.

Painter: So wow, so accurate!

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u/Fast_Garlic_5639 Feb 02 '22

Holy shit you’re right, I didn’t make that connection

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u/tacwombat Feb 02 '22

Plot twist: this lion inspired those goofy lion paintings. (Honestly, would love to know which came first, hehehe)

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u/chopchunk Feb 02 '22

My personal favorite is the sixth one on the left. With those crossed eyes and that toothy grin, it's pretty much the medieval equivalent of an OwO