The Lion – Bulgaria’s national symbol during the Renaissance
Where can you find out more about the symbolism of the lion for Bulgarians in Riga?
The travelling exhibition ‘The Lion – Bulgaria’s National Symbol during the Revival period’ will be in Riga from 28 February to 28 March 2026, at NVO nams (Ieriķu iela 43A, Riga). The exhibition has been produced by the Ivan Vazov National Library in Plovdiv, curated by Assoc. Prof. Dr Alexander Gyoshev, and is being hosted in the Latvian capital to mark the Day of Bulgaria’s Liberation from Ottoman rule – 3 March.
The exhibition covers key stages in the development of the lion as a national symbol of the Bulgarians in various spheres during the Middle Ages and the National Revival, including: heraldic practice, printmaking, the visual arts, revolutionary activity, the struggle for independence, literature and book distribution.
The exhibition is based on Bulgarian and foreign sources and artefacts held at the Ivan Vazov National Library in Plovdiv, the St Cyril and Methodius National Library in Sofia, libraries in Prague, Berlin, Munich, Zagreb and elsewhere, as well as the Plovdiv Regional History Museum, the Panagyurishte History Museum, the National Art Gallery in Sofia, the Plovdiv Art Gallery and others.
The curator of the exhibition, Associate Professor Dr Alexander Gyoshev, is a graduate of the National Academy of Arts, holds a PhD in Art History and Fine Arts, and is a lecturer and Head of the Department of Design at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv.
The lion has been used in Bulgarian heraldry since the Middle Ages, but it became a national symbol of Bulgaria during the National Revival, when it began to be perceived as a symbol of Bulgarian statehood and strength.
• Symbolism: The lion is a symbol of strength, bravery and statehood – qualities that were important in the struggle for national liberation.
• Depictions: The lion has been featured in various depictions, including works of art and literature, to strengthen a sense of national identity and to spur on the Bulgarian people’s struggle for freedom.
• Continuing the tradition: Since the National Revival, the lion has continued to be a national symbol of Bulgaria, as seen in the country’s contemporary symbols.
Further information on this topic can be found here.
The exhibition in Riga is hosted by the Bulgarian Cultural Society of Latvia ‘Cyril and Methodius’.