Lion-Men of the Ancient World: Myth… or Something More? (rewind)

About this episode

For tens of thousands of years, mysterious beings combining the features of humans and lions have appeared throughout the ancient world. From the remarkable prehistoric Lion Man figurine of Europe to the sphinxes and lion-human hybrids of Egypt, Mesopotamia, and beyond, why did ancient cultures repeatedly depict these strange beings? In this episode, we investigate the origins of the Lion Men, their symbolism, and an enduring question: were they simply creatures of mythology—or echoes of something much older?