The national animal of Iran is the Asiatic lion. Though they are no longer found in the wilds of Iran, the lion has been an important Iranian symbol for many thousands of years. The Lion and Sun, though no longer used by the Islam Republic government, was the symbol of the flag until 1979.
The history, especially recent history, of the lion as a symbol in Iran, then, is fairly complex.
The nation has undergone considerable upheaval in recent decades, yet parts of Iran have been settled and civilized since the earliest days that human “civilization” could be said to exist at all.
Let’s find out more.
What is the national animal of Iran?
The national animal of Iran is the Asiatic lion.
This animal is very important both in a literal and symbolic sense to the people of Iran.
Asiatic lions today are not found in Iran itself, though in the not so distant past they were still a fairly common sight.
Firstly, let’s look at the symbol of the Lion and Sun. Up until the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the Lion and Sun was the central element of Iran’s national flag.
This symbol is thought to originate in the Mesopotamian civilization, one of the earliest civilizations in this region of the world.
It is based on astronomical and astrological signs, particularly the sign of the sun in Leo.
There was a connection between the gods of the sun and lions.
So, until 1979, Iran continued to use this symbol in its national flag and though it was replaced by the modern emblem of Iran.
This features four curves and a sword, and is a stylized representation of the word Allah.
So, the older symbol was replaced by an Islamic one. There is no simplifying the complex political situation of Iran in recent decades, and yet at the same time it does strongly influence the country’s national symbols.
Despite this, the national animal of the country is still the Asiatic lion.
Most lions today are found in Africa; in fact, there remains only one small population of lions in India, and besides this, they are all found in Africa.
There are also said to be a few other animals which are also national symbols, like the Asiatic cheetah, Persian leopard, and Persian cat.
They are all important symbols to the people of Iran for a variety of different reasons.
Asiatic lions, though, remain the most important national animals in Iran.
Why is the lion the national animal of Iran?
The Asiatic lion is the national animal of Iran for a few different reasons.
They are, most generally, considered to be important embodiments of many Iranian values: strength, power, courage, and boldness.
The lion of course embodies these things to almost every culture on Earth that has had any contact with lions either today or in its past, and Iran is no different.
The lion, whether African or Asiatic, is a vital symbol of national pride and strength.
Historically, though, they are of course also important symbolically in many other ways.
Astrology of course plays a big role here.
The symbol of the house of Leo and its association with the sun is still important to many Iranian people.
Though this may not be universal in the present political and social climate in Iran, it’s certainly the case that many still find the zodiacal symbols important in their everyday lives.
So, ultimately, you may get a very different answer to this question depending on whom you ask.
Many no doubt feel the lion in its more general symbolism of strength and courage the most important aspect, while many may instead prefer Islamic images and motifs.
Are there lions in Iran today?
There are no lions in the wild of Iran today.
Indeed, as mentioned, wild lions are almost exclusively to be found in Africa today, with one small protected population in a national park in India.
But lions were, historically, spread over a much wider range than they are today.
So, they have played a role in virtually every culture which came into contact with them even from a distance.
Asiatic lions, then, continue to embody many important aspects of Iranian national identity, though they have not been found in the nation for many millennia.
What’s the difference between the African lion and Asiatic lion?
There a few key morphological differences which make the two species easy to tell apart, at least in males.
Asiatci lions have shorter and sparser manes than African lions, whose manes tend to be extremely large and bushy.
Asiatic lions also have what is called a longitudinal fold of skin along their abdomen which is very rarely seen in African lions.
Asiatic lions tend, generally, to be a lot shorter than their African cousins.
So, in general, African lions are larger with a bigger mane in the males.
An Asiatic lion’s mane is shorter and mostly concentrated underneath the neck rather than on top of the head.
So, again, though there are no lions in the wilds of Iran today, they have simply always been an important symbol in this part of the world.
Whether the literal Asiatic lion or the more symbolic lion and sun, these images play a key role even today in the country’s national identity.
It’s hard to simplify decades of civil conflict, but clearly the lion is and has been a vital national symbol in Iran.