Leo by tribu Juda: Story of a lion and a “topos”

Abstract

This article outlines the story of the mythical “Lion of Judah’s tribe”, from the Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis, Kings, Chronicles) up to the Gospels and St. John’s Book of Revelation, from St. Jerome’s Latin version of the Bible up to St. Anthony’s formula of exorcism. Particular attention is paid to the personage of Ras Tafari (1892-1975) and to his projections in Mussolini’s speeches, in Ian Fleming’s spy-stories, in Ethiopian culture and in Jamaican folklore: he was deemed to be the descendent of King Solomon’s and Queen Sheba’s love; Rasta movement considered him the new Messiah.