2007-01-04 20:30:34 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
King Richard the Lion Heart.
Bravery during the crusades etc.. as much as I was led to believe.
2007-01-04 20:32:35 · answer #1 · answered by dsclimb1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in terms of Rugby i assume?
The team historically used the name British Isles. On their 1950 tour of New Zealand and Australia they also adopted the nickname British Lions after the lion emblem on their jerseys which originated in rugby league. Since the 2001 tour of Australia they have used the name British and Irish Lions. The team adopted this latest name to take account of the fact that the Republic of Ireland has not been a part of the UK since 1922, in addition nationalists in most parts of Ireland object to any implication of "Britishness". Some have criticised this change as exhibiting unnecessary political correctness, pointing out that the term British Isles is geographic and carries no political overtones. However, many Irish people maintain that the term British Isles does indeed carry political overtones and prefer the truly neutral geographical term IONA to describe the British-Irish archipelago. Most rugby-union fans simply refer to the team as the Lions.
The Lions do not represent a nation-state, and as such they do not relate to any national flag or other national symbols, and they do not have a national anthem. For the 2005 tour to New Zealand the Lions directorate specially commissioned a song, "The Power of Four", although it met with little support amongst Lions fans at the matches, and even the players seemed not to know the words. The status of the song on future tours remains uncertain.
2007-01-04 20:38:45 · answer #2 · answered by sugarplum9903 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was the the heraldry of the Dukes of Normandy, brought across by William the Conquerer in 1066. Duke William also had a claim to the throne of France so untill the 19th Century the royal coat of arms also incorporated the French Fleurs de Lys. This was removed at the end of the Napoleonic Wars in order to maintain the alliance with Spain and Prussia who feared that Britain would annex France after Waterloo.
Richard 1st Lionheart introduced the Cross of St. George as the flag of England.
2007-01-04 21:15:47 · answer #3 · answered by Red P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Originally the animal emblem for England was a leopard or leopards; I think this came with the Plantagenet dynasty of whom Richard the Lionheart was a scion. Curious when it's really the lionesses that are really brave, but it makes very little sense when the last lions living here were before the last ice age.
2007-01-04 20:44:58 · answer #4 · answered by Vivienne T 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It comes all the way from Uruk (modern day Iraq) and the Sumerian mythology surrounding Gilgamesh. It is the oldest written story in history and describes Gilgamesh taming lions. The allusion is carried on throughout many cultures despite the fact that they don't have this indigenous fauna.
2007-01-04 20:39:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
King Richard! Bravery during the Crusades - became known as Lion Heart for his strength and bravery...hence Richard The LionHeart and the adopted symbol of the Lion on his shield and later coat of arms!
2007-01-04 20:35:24 · answer #6 · answered by jamand 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the standard safety mark... it is meant to be ironic... lions are not safe!
2007-01-04 20:33:56 · answer #7 · answered by IBRAHIM 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lions were once here, their remains have been found in archeological digs.
2007-01-04 22:24:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
im guessing it signifies strength but i agree its a bit weird and another British animal is the bulldog... you probably already knew that
2007-01-04 20:34:02 · answer #9 · answered by Dan 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋