_files/Lion_Passant.svg.png)
Note: A lion thus depicted may be called a "leopard".
| Passant |
|
A "lion passant" is walking, with the right fore paw raised and all others
on the ground.
A "Lion of England" denotes a lion passant guardant Or, used as an
augmentation.
Note: A lion thus depicted may be called a "leopard". |
| Coward |
_files/Lion_Coward.svg.png)
|
A lion (or other beast) coward carries the tail between
its hind legs. The tail also
may be knotted (nowed), forked (queue fourchée) or doubled
(double-queued); as in the arms of the kingdom of Bohemia.
|
"...lions, traditionally associated with royalty, are appropriate for the royal struggle at the heart of the Tapestry's story." -- McNulty
A lion rampant and any other beast of prey is usually represented in heraldry with the tongue and claws of a different colour from the animal. If it is not itself gules, its tongue and claws are usually represented as of that colour, unless the lion be on a field of gules. They are then represented azure, the term being "armed and langued" of such and such a colour. It is not necessary to mention that a lion is "armed and langued" in the blazon when tongue and claws are emblazoned in gules, but whenever any other colour is introduced for the purpose it is better that it should be specified.
The lion's head is normally seen in agreement with the overall position, facing dexter (left) unless otherwise stated. If a lion's whole body is turned to face right, he is to sinister. If his whole body faces the viewer, he is affronté. If his head only faces the viewer he is guardant or gardant, and if he looks back over his shoulder he is regardant. These adjectives follow any other adjectives of position.