The unexpected evolution of the fearful lion’s image

Abstract

Ever since its most archaic phases, the Roman culture was characterised by a constant osmosis with the Greek literature. This kind of relationship generated an artistic and literary production mostly based on the imitations of the traditional Greek genres and contents. This paper, in particular, aims to examine the lion’s portrayal through the development of the Lion Simile in Latin poetry, by also considering the great influence exerted by the Hellenistic epigrams.

The war episodes described by Homer’s lines contribute to relate the feral and bloody violence of the lion-hero with values like courage and fortitude. At this regard, it is useful to remember the four powerful similitudes connected to the image of King Agamemnon within Iliad’s 11th book. In these contexts, the poet compares the warrior’s fury during the battle to the one of a lion in a dreadful succession of fights.