Relief Fragment: Lion Marching with Contarini Coat of Arms

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This relief depicts a lion marching beside the coat of arms of the Cantirini family. The House of Contarini is one of twelve founding families of the Venetian Republic, with multiple branches present in the Veneto's population through extended consanguinity relationships. These noble descendants include European sovereigns, royal and aristocratic ranks among their ancestors. With Alvise Contarini's arrival in Syracuse at Martin I of Sicily's invitation in 1394, a family branch was established on the island, marrying Cesarea Modica from Pietro Modica, Baron of San Giacomo Belmineo and Solarino, and gaining fiefdoms as part of her dowry. Alvise Contarini became Mayor of Syracuse in 1406, followed by various communal, ministerial and military positions held by his descendants in the Kingdom of Sicily and the post-Risorgimento Kingdom of Italy. Today, the family retains its title as Duke of Castrofilippo in Sicily. In 853 AD, Andrea Contarini was documented in the Republic of Venice's first verified record, named in Orso Partecipazio's testament, son of Giovanni I Participazio. According to manuscripts in the Biblioteca Marciana and the family archives, the Contarini claim direct descent from Publius Aurelius Cotta through his son Marcus Aurelius Cotta (consul in 74 BC), maternal uncle of Julius Caesar. This Roman gens Aurelii Cottae transferred their family to Padua, with Lucius Aurelius Cotta becoming prefect of the Reno region near Bologna. His descendants continued this position and added the cognomen Reno, becoming Cotta Reno or Cottareno. The last recorded person bearing this name was Marcus Aurelius Cottareno in Padua in 290 AD; subsequently, the family name was written as Contareno or Contarini in Venetian, with both Latin and Venetian terms used interchangeably. In 338 AD, Marcus Aurelius Contareno (or Marco Aurelio Contarini) became prefect of Concordia under Constantine I, marking the first Contarini to permanently reside in the Venetian area. Later, another Marcus Aurelius Contareno was elected one of twelve tribunes ruling the Byzantine district of Venice (Venetikà in Exarchate Ravenna), and eventually became the first Doge, establishing the independent Republic of Venice. By 1043, Domenico I was elected as the first Doge from the Contarini family. By 1797, when the last Doge abdicated, the Contarini had produced eight Doges of their own. The Contarini also counts notable diplomats, cardinals and navy commanders among their ranks (in the Battle of Lepanto, no fewer than six ships were commanded by Contarini). The Venetian Republic endured for over 1100 years as an independent state until Napoleon's invasion marked its demise. Throughout ever-changing ages, the Contarini led the Venetian Republic forward, adapting to changes in trade, technology, science, religion, art, banking and finance, as well as diplomacy and war. Many wealthy Venetians, like the Contarini, benefited from the spice trade, which facilitated longevity – a crucial requirement for the role of Doge, who must be an octogenarian commanding health, wealth and wisdom.