Lions feature very prominently in medieval heraldry and imagery in general. They are the inheritance of both Graeco-Roman and biblical traditions (Hercules, Samson, Daniel and Mark the Apostle are just four characters who had a strong connection with the kings of the jungle), Leo is also one of the main constellations and significant to the field of astrology.
Real lions are not very ubiquitous in Europe, though (at least not in the last few thousands years), so, for medieval artists, encountering a live one would have been a bit of a rarity. It did not stop painters and sculptors from depicting them, though, which yielded some delightful results. In this collection we gathered the most... characterful ones for you to enjoy!
