AI – ‘The lion symbolized the guardianship of sacred knowledge, divine law, and sacred spaces in several ancient cultures, most notably in Buddhist art and architecture, the Khmer Empire, and to a certain extent, in ancient Egyptian and early Greek traditions. 

• Buddhist Art and Architecture (India and China): The lion is a central symbol in Buddhism, representing the “lion’s roar”—the teachings of the Buddha (Dharma). Pairs of guardian lions (sometimes known as “foo dogs” in China) are frequently placed at the entrances to Buddhist temples, cave temples, and altars to protect the sacred teachings and knowledge within. In Tibet, the Snow Lion represents fearlessness and is a protector of sacred knowledge.
• Khmer Temple Architecture (Cambodia): In the Angkorian period, lion statues (guardians) were placed on the stairways and terraces of temples to symbolize royal, divine protection of the holy sanctuary. They guarded the sacred spaces, often associated with the Hindu gods (like Vishnu or Shiva) or the Buddha, representing the fierce protection of the dharma.
• Ancient Egyptian Art: The sphinx (a lion with a human head) represented the combination of human intelligence and the lion’s strength, acting as a guardian of sacred sites and wisdom. Lions were associated with Sekhmet, the goddess of war and healing, representing divine wrath that protected the sacred order (Ma’at).
• Ancient Greek Art: The Terrace of the Lions in Delos (c. 500 B.C.) featured statues of lions that specifically served as guardians of the sacred sanctuary. 

In all these contexts, the lion was rarely just a decorative element; it was a potent symbol of power and vigilance, entrusted with protecting sacred knowledge, the truth, or the divinity of a ruler.’