9781422276389

I N T R O D U C T I O N

The pride is the core of the lion’s family life. Based on blood relationships through the female line, a close-knit, organized group of lions cooperates in hunting prey, defending territory, and raising young.

T he majestic lion is the legendary ruler of the animal kingdom. Revered for its strength and bravery, the lion has been a symbol of supremacy since the beginning of recorded history. The lion gained its ascendancy in a world filled with fierce contenders. It is not the largest of animals nor the strongest or fastest. Compared to other cats, its skills as a hunter are, in fact, flawed, and its plain, tawny coat does not compare to the richly colored and patterned fur of other animals of its kind. Still, to humans, its position remains uncontested. Certainly, there are few people who, having seen a full-grown lion in the wild, would question its superiority. This has much to do with bearing. The lion conveys gran- deur and self-assurance, particularly a mature adult male possessing a magnificent, full mane that appears to confer the same rank and author- ity as a king’s ceremonial headdress. Then there is the undoubted fierceness of the lion in battle as it attacks and destroys its prey. Its victory is followed by a triumphant roar: a low grumble building in intensity and proclaiming territoriality and power throughout the lion’s domain. Equally impressive is the typically catlike aura of intelligence that conveys the sense of a subtly scheming mind at work. For such things a nd more is the lion justly awarded its crown. Because of these attributes, observed by people through the ages, this splendid cat has long represented both human and supernatural power. The lion’s body was used to depict the Egyptian sphinx, which in various representations has the head of a ram, hawk, or human. Usually standing

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