Why are eagles and lions used on European heraldry?

Question

None of these animals exist in Europe.

Answer 1

eagles live all over europe lions have been part of european lore since the greeks and used as a symbol of power  by rome (along with the eagle) and greece i guess i do need to inform you that europe was heavily influenced by roman and greek culture. epically roman. also the idea of a zoo is not new they did have them back in those days and ppl did travel!! i know it boggles the mind!!! so that is how those oh so primitive ppl would have seen things like lions and tigers and even elephants oh my!!

Answer 2

there are any number of raptors in Europe, and the heraldic eagle is probably based on one of them. Drawings of both animals existed in medieval times. Both creatures symbolize power and regal bearing.

Answer 3

Firstly, you are completely misinformed, eagles definitely exist in Europe, and up until recently, a Lion did exist in Southern Europe and some believe is thought to still do so in small numbers. Secondly, why can't European countries use it on heraldry? It is about what the animals culturally represent, not an Animal Planet documentary. It is not meant to be an accurate representation of the fauna of Europe.

Answer 4

First, eagles are definitely European animals, so your argument there doesn't stand.

Second, the heraldic use of those animals goes back to ancient Rome.

Eagle was regarded as King of the sky (associated with Zeus/Jupiter) and thus the royal bird by excellence. Its image was carried all over by Roman legions that used Eagle shaped standards, not to mention eagle representations in iconography dealing with Jupiter and the Emperor associated with that god.

The lion, due to its size and distinctive appearance was similarly regarded as a regal predator. Rome certainly was exposed to them when it conquered Egypt and North Africa (Remember that in its heyday, Africa from Alexandria to the Atlantic coast was Roman province), plus, if you believe Greek myth, Greece had its share of lions, one of which appears prominently in the myth about the Twelve Tasks of Hercules whose iconography regularly represents him clad in a lion skin. At any rate, the animal certainly was popular in the Roman psyche and became regarded as 'king of animals', and was subsequently used in royal heraldry.