(1.) It is the incarnation of *strength*. Size for size, it is one of
the strongest of beasts. It can kill a man or an antelope with one blow
of its terrible paw; and so powerful are the muscles of the neck, that
it has been known to carry away in its mouth an ordinary ox. Well may
its name signify in the Arabic language "the strong one."
(2.) It is also celebrated for *courage*. A lioness is simply the most
terrible animal in existence when called upon to defend her cubs. We
all know how a hen, when concerned about her chicks, will beat off both
the fox and the hawk by the reckless fury of her attack. And it may be
imagined what the fury of a lioness will be when she has to fight for
her young ones. She cares little for the number of her foes or the
nature of their weapons.
(3.) Another marked feature is that "in the dark there is no animal so
*invisible* as the lion. Almost every hunter has told a similar story
of the lion's approach at night, of the terror displayed by the dogs and
cattle as he drew near, and of the utter inability to see him, though he
was so close that they could hear his breathing."
(4.) The main characteristic, however, is the lion's *roar*. This is
said to be truly awful. Gordon Gumming speaks of it as being "extremely
grand and peculiarly striking. He startles the forest with loud,
deep-toned, solemn roars, repeated five or six times in quick
succession, each increasing in loudness to the third or fourth, when his
voice dies away in five or six low, muffled sounds, very much resembling
distant thunder." It is to this Amos refers when he speaks of his own
prophetic call: "The lion hath roared: who will not fear? The Lord God
hath spoken: who can but prophesy?"