What does the lion mean in Africa. Encyclopedia of symbols

Leo: magical power and loyalty

Many African peoples believed that a god, appearing to people, usually takes the guise of a lion. Lions devouring people were presented to Africans as kings from ancient times who came from the realm of the dead to protect their people. Such great spiritual power was attributed to lions that Africans believed that the mere presence of a lion could heal a person from serious illnesses. It was also believed that lions have a special witchcraft, with the help of which they can take life, - the Africans believed that without the special will of the gods, no living creature could die.

Many African rulers believed that their lineage was descended from lions. There are many legends about the connection between people and lions, as a result of which the mestizos of a lion and a man were born. These half-lions usually possessed supernatural powers and could appear both in the form of lions and in humans. For their human partners, such creatures are often dangerous, since the hunting instinct of lions is always stronger than human love; nevertheless, some legends tell of the loyalty of loving lions.

In many African tribes, there are legends about how men were seduced by female lionesses, and women by male lions. It was believed that a single hair from a lion's eyebrow gave a woman power over men.

Source: "Symbols of Africa" ​​Heike Ovuzu