Below is a photograph of one of Lucernes most famous tourist attraction.
Photo credit:Churchil Angelio/Flickr
Swiss mercenary soldiers had a long tradition of serving foreign governments.
More than six hundred Swiss Guards defending the Tuileries perished during the fighting.
Around two hundred more died in prison of their wounds or were killed during the September Massacres that followed.
Pfyffer remained in service until 1801, when his regiment was disbanded, and he returned to Lucerne.
An early sketch of the lion by sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.
Up to this point, Thorvaldsen had not seen a living lion himself.
He instead relied on illustrations and other representations.
He put out a public appeal for funds and many contributed, but not everybody.
The liberals, in particular, disapproved of the monument.
Eventually, Pfyffer was left with not enough to hire Bertel Thorvaldsen.
The lack of funds didnt discourage Pfyffer, who somehow managed to persuade Thorvaldsen for the job.
Thorvaldsen modeled a dying lion impaled by a spear, symbolizing the fallen Swiss guards.
One of the lions paw covered a shield bearing thefleur-de-lisof the French monarchy.
Beside him is another shield bearing the coat of arms of Switzerland.
Thorvaldsens didnt alter the sculpture itself, out of respect of the fallen soldiers.
Look at the monument again.
Do you see it now?
While working one day, Eggenschwyler fell from the scaffolding and died.
Apparently, nobody noticed the pig until after the sculpture was done.
