In ancient times, the leopard was not thought of as a separate species but believed to be the result of the mating of lions with panthers; hence its name "leo-pardus," or "lion-panther." (Camels also joined in these couplings and were known as "Camelopards.") Because of this misunderstanding, Early Christians considered the leopard symbolic of the offspring of unlawful or unwholesome intercourse.
Leopards were also believed to have the power to change the color of their skin in order to lead humans astray or into their grasp. This ability was equated with the devil's tendency to put on a pretty disguise and deceive humankind. In the Song of Solomon, the mountains of Amana, Senir, and Hermon are called "the mountains of the leopards" (Song 4:8).
In classical mythology, Dionysus, the god of wine, wears a leopard skin and is accompanied by leopards as he travels the earth, teaching the art of wine-making. The leopard is also associated with Hera's thousand-eyed watchman, Argus.
In Egypt, the leopard skin was associated with Set, the god of evil. The funerary priest known as the Kheri-heb wore leopard skins while performing his duties to show that he had defeated Set and gained magical power over the Underworld and any evil spirits who might disturb the dead. Among the Sudani tribes, people (both living and dead) were believed to be able to turn themselves into leopards.
Leopard skins are associated with Hebrew stories of Nimrod, a mighty warrior, descendant of Cush, and builder of the Tower of Babel (Gen 10:8-12; Mic 5:6; Gen 11:1-9). According to Jewish legend, Nimrod possessed the leopard skins which God used to clothe Adam and Eve when they discovered their nakedness (Gen 3:9-12, 21-24). These skins conferred great power upon their wearer, making Nimrod able to command wild creatures to come to his aid in battle. Nimrod used his authority over animals to take control over the seventy nations of his world and command people to worship him.
Having conquered the world, Nimrod decided to build the Tower of Babel and conquer the Heavens. During the construction of the tower, a worker inconveniently fell to his death. The people, caring only for fame and conquest, had the body carted away without tears or ceremony. A few days later, a brick fell causing a portion of the tower to collapse. When God saw that the workers mourned more for the fallen brick than for their fallen co-worker he reserved man's original language for the Jews and gave a new tongue to each of the remaining nations. The resulting confusion or "babel" divided the nations and prevented the completion of this tower to Heaven. Today, the leopard remains a symbol of pride, valor, mighty hunters and warriors.
The leopard was familiar to and feared by those facing martyrdom in the Roman amphitheaters. Its ferocity, speed, blood-thirstiness, cruelty, and cunning made it a Biblical symbol of the enemies of Judah, including the armies of the Chaldeans (Hab 1:8; Jer 5:6). The Lord threatened to lurk in sinful Israel "like a leopard by the road" (Hosea 13:7).
Its spots made this animal a symbol of sin. The appearance of leopards in pictures of the Adoration of the Magi may be related to this verse in which Jeremiah rather despairingly asks, "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil" (Jer 13:23). The habit of sin was so ingrained in humankind that only the coming of the Redeemer could change our natures. In the millennial kingdom, "the leopard shall lie down with the young goat" and be led by a little child (Isa 11:6).
In St. John's Revelation, he saw a beast which was like a leopard rise up from the sea. It had "seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name" (Rev. 13:1-9). All those whose names were not written in the Book of Life, followed and worshipped this beast who was a great persecutor of the saints. Because of its seven heads, many people identify this beast as the Roman Empire - both ancient and revived. (Rome has been called the "City Upon Seven Hills.") The beast has also been identified as the Antichrist and as Nero the infamous persecutor of Early Christians. After Nero's death many people believed he would rise again miraculously healed to continue his persecutions.
Daniel saw a winged leopard in his visions (Dan 7:3-6). His leopard is thought to represent the speed and ferocity of the Persian conquests or the Grecian conquests under the leadership of Alexander the Great.
Unless otherwise indicated all scripture quotes are from the NKJV Bible.
CommentsTo cite this page:
Tucker, Suzetta. "ChristStory Leopard Page." ChristStory
Christian Bestiary. 1997. http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/leopard.htm
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