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# The Lion's Mound at the Waterloo battlefield, its construction and the symbolism of the lion
- URL: https://theparnassian.com/en/lvinyi-kholm-ili-nasyp-lva-52-metrovyi-monument-bitvy-pri-vaterloo-zalozhennyi-v-1820-godu-i-zavershennyi-v-1826/
- Published: 2023-10-18T06:01:59.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-02T18:50:37.000Z
- Author: Alexandr Radayev
- Tags: Architecture, Geography, Heritage

The Lion's Mound, or Butte du Lion, is a 52-metre monument to the Battle of Waterloo, begun in 1820 and completed in 1826\. To build the 40-metre mound, earth was brought in from various parts of the battlefield, and on its summit a 4-metre lion was set upon a 7-metre pedestal.

The symbolism of the lion with its paw resting on a sphere relates not only to the establishment of peace on earth after Napoleon's defeat, but also alludes to the Belgian heraldic lion, a stylisation of the map of the historical Netherlands, which appears on the coats of arms of the Belgian provinces and of the House of Orange.

According to legend, the lion was cast from the metal of melted-down French cannon.

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_10082@18-10-2023_09-01-59.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_10083@18-10-2023_09-01-59.jpg)

![](https://theparnassian.com/content/images/2026/09/photo_10084@18-10-2023_09-01-59.jpg)