Lions in Scotland??

[Abax]

Two things - There are also a lot of dragons used in shields and crests, and I don't think anyone ever saw one of those?

I saw a dragon in Australia:



This guy's about 2 meters long.

Abax

[James MacMillan]

I saw a dragon in Australia:

Point taken and accepted. I also like the shots here.

[Amoskeag]

One would think they'd use something local, like a salmon.

Do I spy a tongue planted firmly in a cheek?

Salmon Rampant? I don't know, just doesn't seem to strike much fear into my heart. Maybe if you put some claws on the fins. I'm just trying to picture North Conway with "The Scottish Salmon"
Bob

[James MacMillan]

Do I spy a tongue planted firmly in a cheek?

Salmon Rampant? I don't know, just doesn't seem to strike much fear into my heart. Maybe if you put some claws on the fins. I'm just trying to picture North Conway with "The Scottish Salmon"
Bob

I don't know about Salmon Rampant - But Bass Rampant?

[Amoskeag]

That works!

[Archangel]

So I'm pondering the name of the Scottish Lion catalog. Then got to wondering how lions became part of Scottish heraldry.

I'm no biologist but I don't think lions ever roamed free in Scotland. And I don't recall any big market for ancient Scots going on African safaris to hunt lions.

How did the Scots even know about lions? Did the invading Romans bring them along?

Just curious...seems kind of like having a Native Alaskan flag or crest with a palm tree on it.

Enlightenment appreciated.

Ron

The heraldry question has been well covered.

As far as native lions, there were big cats but not big like lions.

There was a dark ages trade in exotic animals and you can read about animals showing up as prizes in remote places. Just like today.

It may be that lions were kept in the Edinburgh castle but I'd like to see better historical evidence for it.

[Big Homestead]

Interesting thread!

[Rab Gordon]

Our cat who thinks he's really a lion.......

Rab

[davedove]

There were at one time lions in Europe, but they had died out by the 2nd century. I don't know how they compared to the African lion, but they did exist.

Of course, by the 13th century, they were not around, so the normal European would not have seen one, short of someone having an exotic animal. Now kings were not the normal European and would have been much more likely to have an exotic animal or to have traveled or visited someone who did.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The heraldic lion is an import from the Old Testament. The late Sir Ian Moncrieff of that Ilk posited that it came to Scotland from Ireland; what you all have to remember is that heraldry (as we know it) dates pretty much from the 12th century... and that heraldry (as we now practice it) is pretty much a 19th century affliction!