The symbolism of the lion in Egypt has a very long history. Ever since the early centuries of the pharaonic age, the animal was associated with the sun. The sphinx, an image of Horus on the horizon, symbolized the divine nature of the king, who was the son of Re, the sun-god. In the Christian religion, the power of the revelation and light of Christ (who is the sun who illuminates the universe) are often expressed through the image of the lion. Besides being the emblem of Judaea, the lion is also the symbol of Saint Mark, who spread the Gospel in Africa and was martyred in Alexandria.
