Lions

Texts: Lancelot and Yvain      

The Medieval Bestiary on Lions      

"The lion is the king of the beasts, and as such is usually the first beast described in the bestiaries. The lion chapter is generally one of the longest and most complex. 

The lion has three natures: when a lion walking in the mountains sees that it is being hunted, it erases its tracks with its tail; it always sleeps with its eyes open; and its cubs are born dead and are brought to life on the third day when the mother breathes in their faces or the father roars over them. Some sources add more natures: a lion only kills out of great hunger; it will not attack a prostrate man; it allows captive men to depart; it is not easily angered; the lioness first has five cubs, then one less each year.A lion's strength is seen in its chest, its firmness in its head, and its courage in its forehead and tail.Lions are frightened of the sight of hunters with spears, so they look at the ground when surrounded. They also fear the sound of creaking cart wheels, fire, and the sight of the white cock. A sick lion cures itself by eating an ape, eating on one day and drinking the next; if the meat does not digest properly the lion pulls it out of its stomach with its claws. Lions are harmed by scorpions and killed by snakes."

Literary Context    

From Lancelot: "But the two knights who were with the third were much discouraged; for they surmised that two lions or two leopards would be found tied to a great rock at the other end of the bridge. The water and the bridge and the lions combine so to terrify them that they both tremble with fear, and say: "Fair sire, consider well what confronts you; for it is necessary and needful to do so...but even supposing that you got across, can you think and suppose that those two fierce lions that are chained on the other side will not kill you, and suck the blood from your veins, and eat your flesh and then gnaw your bones?"      

From Yvain:"Just hear now what the lion did! He acted nobly and as one well-bred; for he began to make it evident that he yielded himself to him, by standing upon his two hind-feet and bowing his face to the earth, with his fore- feet joined and stretched out toward him. Then he fell on his knees again, and all his face was wet with the tears of humility. My lord Yvain knows for a truth that the lion is thanking him and doing him homage because of the serpent which he had killed, thereby delivering him from death… And the lion walks close by his side, unwilling henceforth to part from him: he will always in future accompany him, eager to serve and protect him. He goes ahead until he scents in the wind upon his way some wild beasts feeding; then hunger and his nature prompt him to seek his prey and to secure his sustenance. It is his nature so to do."        



Lions are paid the most reverence in most bestiaries and in the text above because they are thought to be the king of all beasts, which is still seen today in children's literature -such as the self-explanatory The Lion King- and young adult literature such as Harry Potter that imbues lions with natural leadership. Historically, a significant amount of heraldry and crests feature lions.  Unlike other beasts, humans are shown to be willing to work with the lion's wild nature rather than seeking to tame and profit from it -seen in the second passage when Yvain walks beside the lion and doesn't hinder his animal urges. The lion in this passage also understands human intention and conducts himself under man-made codes of honor. The first passage portrays lions more realistically as beasts who follow their nature above else and that should be rightly feared. The tradition of lions and serpents/dragons being eternal enemies is observed in Yvain and later in  the Harry Potter saga.   

 

Modern Representation       

Students sorted into Gryffindor house in Harry Potter are said to exhibit bravery and leadership. Gryffindors and Slytherins (a house represented with serpent insignia) are natural enemies.