(MAD) daily photo: Winged Lion...

You can contemplate this winged twins at the entrance of the Velázquez palace in the Retiro Park...
It dates from the late 800's

¿Madrid?... genesis

We have to go back to the IX century, the times of the Muslim Emir Mohamed I, to find the origin of the city of Madrid, born as Muslim fortress on the north shore of the Manzanares river were now raises the royal palace. Etymologically it comes from ‘Majerit’ and this word from the Arab ‘Mayrit’ that means ‘mother of waters’, at is turn the word ‘Mayrit’ is similar to the romance term ‘Matrič’ meaning ‘matrix’… in conclusion, Latin: Matric(em); Romance (spoken in Spain after Romans): Matrič; Arab: Mayrit; actual Spanish: Madrid. (internet fonts)