The Lion as an animal is an ancient and mythological symbol, the symbol is considered sacred and usually is referred to bravery and strength, some civilizations also consider a lion to represent leadership and strong control. The symbol has for several centuries been integrated into the thought process and thinking of many cultures and civilizations around the world, many countries around the Middle East, India, throughout Africa and bordering the Mediterranean consider the symbol sacred. Lions once upon a time wandered the southern stretches of Europe and North Africa. The major authority of the clout of the Lion and its symbolism could be seen in the representation of this symbol in both the Chinese and Japanese art and folklore, both these cultures have spread this symbol beyond its range and therefore popularised it.
The Lion as a tattoo has had along tradition, with Persian and Carthage kings preferring to use lions as their royal insignia in coins and other public services, having a lion as a tattoo was popular in those days, an Assyrian tribe used the symbol as a tattoo to identify themselves from others and several other tribes and communities have also used symbols like lion and tiger to differentiate one community from the other. In most of the tattoos the lion is shown as a powerful symbol depicting it as both the creator and the destroyer. There are also many tattoo art designs that depict the lion as a half human and half animal creature. In most of Africa the lion is depicted as an arrogant and vain symbol that abuses power and prestige, these give the tattoos here a different design paradigm
The Lion has for long symbolized the divine and solar power which could be shown in a tattoo form, the royal authority and strength it is a fact that in the Greek mythology, Hercules the hero is well-known for having the strength of ten lions and wore a Lion cap and head dress, the images of the Lion has long been used in tattoo design. A tattoo of a lion might represent a few aspects of these special qualities to its wearer, and this symbol is becoming popular now, more than ever.