CONCEPTUAL KEY

Lion

• The Lion, popularly called the “King of the Animals”, is a symbol of greatness and power, as well as wisdom, justice, pride and security;

• Several religious cultures associate this creature with the figure of a father, teacher, or ruler;

• In the Hindu religion, Krishna is referred to as a lion among wild creatures, while in the Christian religion, Jesus Christ is described as the “Lion of Judah”. The Buddha – according to Buddhist belief – is called the “Lion of the Shakyas”;

“Everything the light touches is our kingdom. But a king's time as ruler rises and falls like the sun.” – The Lion King

In the literary series “The Chronicles of Narnia”, several connotations of the Christian religion accompany, mainly, the lion Aslan, described by the author of the saga himself – C. S. Lewis – as an allegory of Jesus Christ.

Son of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea (the ultimate divine figure in this universe), Aslan is portrayed as the creator and destroyer of Narnia, a wise and kind figure who appears in brief periods of the story to restore peace to this world and help the different characters and heroes on their journey of maturation and overcoming the physical and psychological obstacles they face.

Mufasa and Simba (from Walt Disney's 1994 animated classic “The Lion King”) are other lions that have left their mark on popular culture.

Mufasa explains to Simba the duties and responsibilities of a ruler towards his subjects in several philosophical dialogues with his son, demonstrating that there is something more important and precious than the integrity of a sovereign or his domain.