As the “king of beasts,” majestic lions have been used as a symbol of courage, nobility and strength by rulers for over 6000 years.
As the “king of beasts,” majestic lions have been used as a symbol of courage, nobility and strength by rulers for over 6000 years. A lion became the symbol of a Norwegian king at least as early as 1280. It still stands proudly on Norway’s Coat of Arms.
Wild lions have likely never made their way to Norway, but European cave lions were once found as far north as Denmark.
Lions were once far more widespread than they are now, with several subspecies of lions dividing the world between them. They were found in much of Europe and Asia including the Middle East, in Africa, North America and maybe South America.
Today, the lion is considered a vulnerable species, and is found only in relatively isolated pockets of Africa and – just barely still – in India.
Read more at Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Image: The lion has been a symbol of power for at least 6000 years. But now they need help. (Credit: Photo: Per Harald Olsen, NTNU)
