Mirolyubov Ivan Andreyevich – Candidate in History, Associate Professor, Chamber of History, Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy
The lion was well known in Classical Antiquity and occupied an important place in the culture of the Greeks and Romans. After the campaigns of Alexander the Great, the practice of keeping lions as pets spread throughout the Ancient World. The image of a “domesticated”, tamed lion was developed in ancient literature. It was interpreted in two ways. On the one hand, such a lion was a symbol of a luxurious lifestyle that enslaves the one who leads it. On the other hand, the lion, like any predator, was a symbol of tyrannical rule. In this sense, the reports of ancient authors about a number of Roman emperors who kept lions are noteworthy. The article examines reports of domestic lions in connection with the characteristics of their owners in the ancient narrative tradition.
ancient bestiary; lions in ancient literature; ancient narrative tradition; Roman emperors.