“Dinosaur” of the Milan Cathedral: a mysterious creature on the walls of the Duomo (7 photos)

Every day, hundreds of tourists take pictures of the majestic Duomo (Duomo di Milano) - the cathedral in Milan, dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - the pearl of the city's Gothic architecture.





But few people notice the strange creature lurking among the bas-reliefs at the main entrance.



This beast is either a dog, or a dragon, or a dinosaur. It has a long neck, a reptilian head and webbed feet. Unlike the ferocious "biscone" (the heraldic snake - the symbol of Milan), this "dinosaur" looks good-natured and seems to be enthusiastically chewing a leaf.





The cathedral was built over five centuries (from 1386 to 1805), and it is unknown when exactly this bas-relief appeared. Perhaps the carver simply gave free rein to his imagination, as with gargoyles. Or maybe this is a forgotten symbol or an attempt to depict a real creature?

Who are you, mysterious beast?



If you look closely, you can see that the "dinosaur" is small, almost like a puppy. One theory says that this is the birth of Tarantasio, a mythical monster that appeared in the swamps near Milan in the 12th century after floods.



According to legend, Tarantasio disappeared on December 31, 1299, and later, after a rainstorm, a huge bone floated to the surface. Maybe it was our "dinosaur"?



The dragon ("biscone") is an ancient heraldic symbol

One way or another, the mystery remains. Milan Cathedral holds many secrets, and this cute dragon is just one of them.



Fresco by Tarantasio in the church of San Giorgio in Lemine in Almenno San Salvatore (Bergamo)