The Lion of Judah, Aslan and the Pride of Abyssinia

(this article is an edited compilation)

This is the story of a lion by name Aslan, the King of Beasts, son of the Emperor-over-the-Sea, a wise compassionate Savior. Aslan, the Lion, also a Lamb, at the same time, is a symbol of pride in one and many ways as we will come to understand. This is also the story of The Lion of Judah, the scriptural reference, a mythological character, symbol of the Almighty and a blessing from ‘Jacob’, a patriarch who appears in all the three monotheistic religions. This is the story of Zerai Deres, just another normal man, an almost unknown martyr defending his faith, a loyal fighter and a man of pride. The three different stories find a convergence in the Kingdom of Abyssinia, the land of Ethiopia, on a very common theme, the theme of ‘Pride and Patriotism’.

Zerai Deres, an Eritrean stands tall as a symbol of pride in Ethiopia, evident both in actions as well as words, among Ethiopians who take a great pride in their roots and the history of their country. Zerai Deres, laid down his life in respect for the Lion of Judah, a sacrifice that laid the foundation for an eventual return to home of the historic statue. Both ‘the statue’ and the ‘return to home’ of the statue are symbolic of the return from great exile of a great Jewish nation, as documented in the scriptures and history books.

Extending from the sixth to the fifteenth degree of north latitude, and situated to the south of Nubia, is the Kingdom of Abyssinia, largely not accurately, the current day Ethiopia. Derived from Habech, Abyssinia answers to the Upper, or Eastern, Ethiopia of the ancients, and comprises four provinces: Tigré, Amhara, Goggiam, and Shoa, four small kingdoms entrusted to as Ras, or Negus, whence the title, negus-se-néghest, i.e., “King of Kings”, assumed by the emperor of Abyssinia, described…

The Lion of Judah is the symbol of the Hebrew tribe of Judah, a royal Jewish tribe from which Messiah the Prince should come. According to the scriptures, specifically in the Torah and the Bible, the tribe consists of the descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. Mentioned in several places including in the book of Genesis and the book of Revelations. In Genesis, the patriarch Jacob (‘Israel’) gave that symbol to his tribe (of Judah) when he refers to his son Judah as a ‘cub’, “Young Lion” while blessing him, Genesis 49:9. “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness–who dares to rouse him?” The Lion of Judah was used as a Jewish symbol for many years, and as Jerusalem was the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, in 1950 it was included in the Emblem of Jerusalem. The Lion also finds mention in the book of Revelations, as representing Jesus. Quoting the book of Revelations 5:5. “And one of the elders saith unto me, Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals thereof.” The Lion here is widely regarded as a reference to Jesus Christ.

The treatise of “Kebre Negest” or the Glory of the Kings, is a 13^th century account of the Solomonic lines of origin of the Ethiopian Emperors, a document that is more than 700 years old and is considered as a reliable account of Ethiopian history by the Ethiopian Christians and the Rastafari (who is that? keep reading!). The treatise describes how the Queen of Sheba, Queen Makeda of Ethiopia met King Solomon and, about how the Ark of the Covenant came to Ethiopia with Menelik I (Menyelek). It also discusses the conversion of the Ethiopians from the worship of the Sun, Moon and stars to that of the “Lord God of Israel”.

In the story of Aslan, the Deep Magic as referred to by C. S. Lewis, is akin to the laws and rules laid down in the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, which Christians call the Old Testament. Deeper Magic is symbolic of the grace, mercy, and sacrifice emphasized in the Christian New Testament with Aslan’s sacrifice representing Christ’s crucifixion. Aslan, Turkish for Lion, is shown to be gentle and loving, all-powerful and can be dangerous, not just a tame lion. Aslan’s sacrifice and subsequent resurrection parallel Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The Emperor-Over-the-Sea refers to God the Father. As C. S. Lewis states: Aslan is not an allegorical portrayal of Christ, but rather a suppositional incarnation of Christ Himself. Author goes on to say, “If Aslan represented the immaterial Deity, he would be an allegorical figure. In reality however, he is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question, ‘What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia and if He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?’ This is not allegory at all”. Aslan, the Lion, also a Lamb, at the same time, is a symbol of pride in one and many ways. In the year 375, Saint Augustine, an early Christian theologian and philosopher compared Jesus both with a lamb and with a lion during his passion as well as in his resurrection: “Why a lamb in his passion? Because he underwent death without being guilty of any iniquity. Why a lion in his passion? Because in being slain, he slew death. Why a lamb in his resurrection? Because his innocence is everlasting. Why a lion in his resurrection? Because everlasting also is his might”. Described earlier, the biblical references of Christ being referred to as a lion, ‘Aslan is Jesus Christ’.

It is written in ‘Kebre Negest’ that the descendants in Ethiopia are from a retinue of Israelites who returned along with Queen Makeda, (the Queen of Sheba) when she was returning from her visit to King Solomon in Jerusalem. By the King Solomon of Jerusalem, Queen of Sheba had conceived the Solomonic dynasty’s founder named Ebn Melek (later Emperor Menelik (I)), in Ethiopia, and as Solomon was of the tribe of Judah, his son Menelik I would continue the Solomonic line, which according to Ethiopian history was passed down from King to King until Emperor Haile Selassie I, ostensibly the 225th king from King David, was deposed in 1974. Both Christian and Jewish Ethiopian history have it that there were also immigrants of the Tribes of Dan and Judah that accompanied Queen Makeda back from her visit to Solomon; hence The Lion of Judah, is included among the titles of the Emperor throughout the Solomonic Dynasty in Ethiopia. When he was of age, Ebn Melek (Menelik) returned to Israel to see his father, who sent with him the son of Zadok to accompany him with a replica of the Ark of the Covenant (Ethiosemitic: tabot). On his return with some of the Israelite priests, however, he found that Zadok’s son had stolen the real Ark of the Covenant. Some believe the Ark is still being preserved today at the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum, Ethiopia. The tradition that the biblical Queen of Sheba was a ruler of Ethiopia who visited King Solomon in Jerusalem in ancient Israel is supported by the 1st century AD Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who identified Solomon’s visitor as a queen of Egypt and Ethiopia.

In the Ethiopian history, both from a historical perspective and political perspective, the Lion of Judah was one of the titles of the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie (1913-1936) and was depicted on the flag of Ethiopia from 1897-1974. Haile Selassie I was the throne name for Ras Tafari Makonnen who was the cousin of then Empress Zauditu. Zauditu a Christian nobility and Menelik’s (Menelik II) daughter died in 1930 when Rastafari Makonnen took over the throne as Emperor Haile Selassie I. Due to its association with Selassie, the Lion of Judah, continues to be an important symbol among members of the Rastafari movement. The Rastafari believe that “The Lion of Judah” mentioned in Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5 is considered to be a reference to Emperor Haile Selassie I of Abyssinia. Interestingly, Haile Selassie is believed to be the biblical lion of Judah, crowned on 2 November 1930, with the title “His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, King of Kings of Ethiopia LORD of lords, the Light of the World and Elect of God.” a descendant of the tribe of Judah through the lineage of King David and King Solomon. The Lion of Judah therefore became the personal symbol of Emperor Haile Selassie I.

The statue of The Lion of Judah is a glorious historical Ethiopian monument. Clearly intended to be so, the sacrifice made by Zeria Deres established it a monumental status to what is clearly believed and is a fact documented in several scriptures and described above, is the meaning, significance and importance of the Lion of Judah. The statue of Lion of Judah, standing tall on a black granite pedestal, decorated with portraits of Emperors Menelik II, Haile Selassie I, Empress Zewditu I, as well as Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael, signifies the Ethiopian culture. The statue in particular has a very interesting and significant history besides the historical relevance and religious reverence to the symbol, of the Lion of Judah. This statue is a symbol of sacrifice and patriotism, that Ethiopians take pride in.

Historically, the monument of the Lion of Judah, was one of several unveiled for the Emperor’s coronation (Emperor Haile Selassie I) in 1930 in Addis Ababa. The Italian army, under the direction of dictator Benito Mussolini, invaded and occupied Ethiopian territory on October 2, 1935, interrupting Emperor Haile Selassie’s reign. They occupied the capital Addis Ababa on May 5. Emperor Haile Selassie pleaded to the League of Nations for aid in resisting the Italians. Nevertheless, the country was formally annexed on May 9, 1936 and the Emperor went into exile. The invading Italian army occupied Addis Ababa (1936-41) and began to make plans to seize the monuments they liked to send back as spoils of war to Rome. They demolished several monuments to Emperor Menelik, who defeated the Italians in 1896. The Lion of Judea, despite weighing several tons, was shipped off to Rome and erected next to the large white Vittorio (Victor) Emanuelle Monument in time for the fourth anniversary of the declaration of the New (Fascist) Italian Empire.

During the fourth anniversary of the Italian Empire’s proclamation, Adolf Hitler chose to visit Rome, and attended the celebratory parades alongside the Fascist dictator Benito Mussollini and King Victor Emanuelle III. Numerous soldiers from Italy’s African Empire marched in attendance including a young Eritrean named Zerai Deres. Zerai Deres was marching with other parade members carrying a ceremonial sword which he was to salute the King, the Fuhrer, and II Duce, at the grandstand. As the parade of soldiers marched past the Vittorio Emauele II monument, Zerai glanced up and to his shock saw the golden lion statue and realized he was looking at the looted monument, the personal symbol of his Emperor. In Zerai’s perception, the Lion of Judah statue stood and presently stands as a symbol of the ancient Ethiopian monarchy that his ancestors owed a long and strong allegiance. To witness and see the Lion of Judah statue erected as war booty in the heart of Rome, became too much for him to bear. The young man was kindled with tears of patriotism and anger, and defiantly interrupted proceedings to kneel and pray before it. When the police verbally and physically attempted to stop his prayers, he rose and promptly drew his ceremonial sword and killed and wounded many Italian military officers screaming ‘the Lion of Judah is avenged!”. In some time, Zerai Deres was finally subdued and was either killed or died seven years later in an Italian prison. His legend lives on in Ethiopia and Eritrea and he has been known as an Ethiopian Patriot.

The Lion of Judah Monument remained in Rome for several decades. In 1960 after long negotiations, the statue was repatriated while Emperor Haile Selassie was still in power. On the day of the lion statue arrival, Emperor Haile Selassie I, who returned to the throne in spring (5 May) 1941 when the Italians were defeated by British and Allied forces (including Ethiopian forces), was present in military uniform to salute and pay tribute to Zerai Deres.

Following the 1974 revolution, the Derg regime decided to remove the lion statue once more as it resembled a monarchist Empire. However, due to the elderly association of war veterans, they appealed to the Derg to consider the memory of Zerai Deres and his sacrifice. It was that act of sacrifice, loyalty and patriotism of Zerai Deres, which was reminded by the veterans that saved the statue and it stood in its Imperial glory even through the Derg era and continues to stand today.

As history goes to show, The Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah prevailed, so shall it always be!