1

Krengkrai KK Paisansiri

English 100 Sandel

7 December 2024

Lion Symbolism Essay

Lions in most cultures and mythologies have been a symbol of great power, courage, and

leadership. Even in areas where the lion naturally doesn’t live, the animal can still be recognized

in artwork generally by the large mane of male lions and large prowess when depicted in art.

However, this essay will compare and contrast differences in symbolism and meaning of the lion

according to their depictions found in different mythologies and cultures around the Earth. The

Ancient Egyptians would use lions to represent different types of gods with specific roles. The

Chinese would use lions to symbolize guardians and protectors from evil spirits. In Medieval

Europe, the lion would be the symbol of Christian themes and nobility.

The Ancient Egyptians would depict lions as multiple different types of gods in their

pantheon, such as Aker and Sekhmet. In Ancient Egyptian mythology, lions would symbolize

war, protection, and medicine. One of the earliest Ancient Egyptian gods to be depicted as a lion

was Aker, the god of the earth and the horizon. Aker’s role according to Egyptian mythology was

to guard the underworld, providing safe passage to the afterlife for pharaohs and good spirits,

while also warding bad spirits away from the gates of the afterlife. This can be seen in Egyptian

art, where Aker is depicted as two lions facing opposite ways from each other, with the sun rising

in between the two lions. In Cedric Ferris’ article, “Aker: Ancient Egyptian God Of Earth And

Horizon”, Ferris explains the importance of Aker’s role and the significance of Aker’s
 2

symbolism. When describing Aker’s depiction, Ferris says, “ In Egyptian myths, Aker stands for

the earth’s edges (the east and west horizons) where the sun rises and sets. This makes Aker key

in the day and night cycle. The two lions (Sef and Duau) show yesterday and tomorrow, showing

Aker’s control over time. Aker’s spot at the horizon means he helps the sun rise each morning

(rebirth) and go into the underworld each night (sets). This link shows Aker’s role in keeping

cosmic order and the natural cycle.” (Ferris) Aker would typically be worshiped during funerals,

seeking protection and safe passage to the underworld for the deceased.

Sekhmet is another Egyptian goddess with lion symbology. Sekhmet is the goddess of

war, plague, and medicine as well. Unlike Aker who is a god depicted as two lions, Sekhmet is

depicted as a human-like goddess with a lioness head with a sun-disc over her. According to

Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet was created by the Sun god, Ra to punish mankind for disobeying

him. Sekhmet would rampage over Egypt, and when commanded to stop by Ra, Sekhmet

ignored her father, continuing the destruction of mankind. Ra would be able to stop Sekhmet by

mixing beer with pomegranate juice, making it look like blood, and pouring it over the fields.

Sekhmet would consume the “blood” becoming so drunk, causing her to sleep for three days and

be too hungover to continue her bloodlust, saving humanity. According to the “Sekhmet” article

by the Ancient Egyptian online site, Sekhmet would be celebrated annually in Ancient Egypt,

commemorating the saving of mankind by drinking beer with pomegranate juice. This myth

would symbolize the bloodlust and warlike aggression of Sekhmet, representing a lion’s

aggression and ferocity. Sekhmet would also be the patron god of healers and doctors as the

Egyptians believed that she has the ability to heal, but also cause plagues and diseases to spread.
 3

Although both Anker and Sehkmet are represented with lion symbology, Anker

represents more of the guardian protector symbolism of the lion, while Sekhmet represents a

more bloodthirsty, aggressive side of the lion. Sekhmet is also more humanoid and in mythology

is shown to have emotions and other human characteristics.

Another prevalent use of lion symbology can be found in Asian architecture, the Chinese

guardian lion. A pair of lion statues, typically made of stone or metal, placed in front of

buildings, usually those of greater importance such as temples and government buildings in

ancient China. The guardian lions are thought to ward off any evil spirits and bring good luck.

The lions are not gods and aren’t revered as such, compared to the Ancient Egyptians who did

worship the lion-like gods Anker and Sekhmet. At the University of Pennsylvania’s Digital Art

Collection, their exhibit Guardian Lion: Male & Female also explains that lions weren’t

originally from China but instead brought from trading east in Central Asia, making many early

statues look less lion-like. According to the University of Pennsylvania exhibit’s description on

guardian lions, “The earlier figures of lions assembled a combination of tigers and Qilin, a

mythical creature in Chinese culture.”

Guardian lions would also change in appearance as they gained popularity throughout

Asia, as other cultures began incorporating them into their own architectural designs. Korean and

Japanese guardian lions look much more similar to their Chinese counterparts due to distance

and higher Chinese influence. Compared to countries such as Cambodia and Thailand, the

appearance of guardian lions is much more mythological due to a mix of Buddhist, Hindu, and

local folktales contributing to the change. However, the symbol of the guardian lion remains the

same throughout Asian countries. Symbolizing protection and strength, warding off any bad
 4

spirits or energy away from where they are placed. While also being a symbol of good luck and

fortune for those near guardian lions. Guardian lions aren’t gods like Anker or Sehkmet, but

instead more of a mythological creature that guards shrines or other buildings. Guardian lions

aren’t worshipped or revered, however, they do still symbolize protection wherever they are

placed. In Asian cultures, guardian lions still give a sense of comfort and ease, due to the belief

that the statues deter bad luck and spirits.

The lion would also be one of the most popular symbols used in Medieval Europe. The

lion symbolizes justice, nobility, and courage. Typically lions were designed on the coat of arms

of noble families signifying great power in one’s lineage. The lion also symbolizes Jesus Christ,

as the Bible refers to Jesus as a lion multiple times. In the Catholic news site, Aleteia, the article,

“The powerful symbolism of the lion in Christian art” by Philip Kosloski explains, “This is due

in part to the lion’s reputation as the “king,” as well as an ancient belief that lion cubs were born

dead and after three days were brought to life by their father’s roar. The book of Revelation also

refers to Jesus as a lion: “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has

triumphed” (Revelation 5:5).” Lion paintings, statues, and carvings can be seen at different

Christian churches throughout Europe, symbolizing Jesus Christ and his almighty power. Unlike

Sekhmet, the Ancient Egyptian lioness goddess who uses the symbol of a lion as aggressive and

bloodthirsty, the Christian lion symbolizes regalness.

Medieval Europeans were also influenced by Ancient Roman and Greek mythology,

which symbolized lions as mighty and unstoppable. Many artists would create artwork of the

Greek myth of the Nemean Lion being killed by Hercules. According to legend, the Nemean

Lion had a fur coat impervious to any blade or weapon, with Hercules being able to kill it with
 5

his bare hands and then using the lion’s coat as protection from any dangers. Ancient Romans

would use lions as opponents to fight against gladiators or slaves in arena games, such as the

Colosseum in Rome. Lions would be symbols of great might and power during Roman and

Ancient Greek times and would continue to be used as that symbol during the Medieval times.

Lions were also used as a symbol in heraldry or coat of arms design as a symbol of

bravery and power. Noble families would have family flags that had different designs and

symbols to represent their respective lineage during Medieval times. The lion would become one

of the more popular insignias due to the lion being known as the “King” of all beasts and also the

Christian symbolism with lions representing Jesus Christ. Many noble families would adopt the

lion into their coat of arms to show prowess against other competing noble families. The

Kingdom of England would use three golden lions on a red background as their coat of arms and

the lion is still a symbol of English royalty till this day. Unlike the Ancient Egyptians and

Chinese who used the lion as a symbol for guardian creatures or other deities, Medieval

Europeans, specifically noblemen would use the lion symbol to empower themselves and their

families, as having a lion on one’s coat of arms would be a symbol of a powerful and royal

family that also shows their faith and support to Christianity.

When given the title of lion in Medieval Europe, it can also mean one who rules justly. In

the Cambridge scholarly article by Nigel Harris, “THE LION IN MEDIEVAL WESTERN

EUROPE: TOWARD AN INTERPRETIVE HISTORY” Harris goes over some of the

symbology of lions that are found in Medieval Europe and their significance.

A number of princes (such as Kings William I of Scotland and Louis VIII of

France) were specifically labeled leo iustitiae or leo pacificus — appellations that were
 6

plainly intended to draw attention to their perceived moral probity, but did not exclude

the exercise of considerable violence on their part. (Harris)

Harris explains that those nicknamed the lion were rulers who were fair in rule but were

terrifying and swift in punishment against rebellions or those who refused to listen. It wasn’t

considered harsh, but necessary for a ruler to be seen as ruthless in punishment, but also fair and

just.

Overall, in most cultures, the lion remains a symbol of leadership, great strength,

and protection in most mythologies. However, the cultures in this essay would interpret the lion

differently, each having their own reasoning for why the lion is such a powerful symbol. The

Ancient Egyptians would deify the lion into multiple different gods, such as Aker and Sekhmet.

Their interpretation of the lion is much more ferocious as Sekhmet is believed to almost destroy

mankind, but also more human-like as the Egyptian gods aren’t omnipotent and all-knowing.

This can be seen when Sekhmet is too drunk to continue ravaging and stops completely. The

Chinese guardian lion symbolizes more protection and good fortune than the other two cultures.

Due to lions not naturally living in China, artists have created guardian lions to look much more

majestic than their real counterparts and are more related to keeping bad spirits away. The

guardian lion is also not a god or represents a god unlike Egyptian and Medieval European

symbols of lions. Lastly, Medieval Europeans would value the lion symbol for its Christian ideas

and representation of high nobility. Jesus Christ is also depicted as a lion in Christian Medieval

Art, making it a symbol of all-knowing or Christ-like.

Works Cited

“Aker | Ancient Egypt Online.” Ancientegyptonline.co.uk, 2010, ancientegyptonline.co.uk/aker/.

Davey, Stephen. “Jesus: The Lion of Judah - Understanding the Symbolism and Significance.”

Wisdom International, 2021, www.wisdomonline.org/blog/lion-of-judah?lang=English.

Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Ferris, Cedric. “Aker: Ancient Egyptian God of Earth and Horizon.” Mystery in History, Mystery

In History – Exploring Secrets of the Past, 28 May 2024,

mysteryinhistory.com/aker/#symbolism-and-iconography. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

“Guardian Lion: Male & Female · Art at Penn.” Pennds.org, 2024,

www.pennds.org/arth503640/items/show/23.

Harris, Nigel. “THE LION in MEDIEVAL WESTERN EUROPE: TOWARD an

INTERPRETIVE HISTORY.” Traditio, vol. 76, 2021, pp. 185–213,

https://doi.org/10.1017/tdo.2021.5.

Kosloski , Philip. “Symbolism of Lion in Christian Art--Aleteia.” Aleteia — Catholic

Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture, 2017,

aleteia.org/2017/09/05/the-powerful-symbolism-of-the-lion-in-christian-art.

Maydana, Sebastian. “The War Goddess of Ancient Egypt: Sekhmet the Bloodthirsty (7 Facts).”

TheCollector, 3 Mar. 2022, www.thecollector.com/sekhmet-egyptian-goddess/.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. “Sekhmet - Explore Deities of Ancient Egypt.”

Egyptianmuseum.org, egyptianmuseum.org/deities-sekhmet.