The evidence for this is an ivory sculpture, 31cm (12.2in) tall, depicting a hybrid creature, with a human body and a lion’s head, carved from the tusk of a mammoth 40,000 years ago.

On receiving the award, Cronenberg said the Golden Lion statuette, which is in the shape of a lion with wings - a symbol of the city of Venice - represented "the monster of art and of truth." ...

The top prize at Venice is a Golden Lion (in honor of the iconic lion that is the symbol of the city) and it's one of the top prizes in cinema along with the Palme d'Or.