The Greeks worshiped a lion headed goddess call Skhmet who represented the scorching heat of the sun. As the sun shines most brightly at the month of Leo she seems to be the original archetype for this sign.

It was the Egyptians who constructed the Sphinx representing a lion merging with a god. Astrologically this aspect is at the cusp of Leo merging with Virgo and many people believe the build of the Sphinx took place during the end of the Age of Leo and the beginning of the Age of Virgo. The cusp of Leo/Virgo in the wheel represents the first stage of initiation in a disciple’s path.

The Sun was regarded as the king of the planets just as the lion is known as the king of the beasts. Leo is reputed to be kingly and dominating. The Sun is in the center of the planets giving them life as they circle it and in medical astrology it is the heart, the central organ of life.

Leos often find themselves or even place themselves at the center of affairs in their lives and relationships, many of which depend on their solar force for leadership, light and direction. The Leo must make compromises as he directs his ego or will on others the collective and this is why Leo is a social sign. During the Leo phase of humanity the individual must make his mark or find his place in society in general.

The sign once again is in accordance with the seasonal time of the year as the sun in its brightest month is analogous with the position of the leader in society.

The sun is the visible symbol of life force which animates all beings, the vital power or energy of our existence. This solar energy in neither good nor bad it is simply power. When allowed to run wild without any conscious direction it can lead to egotism and the need to conquer or dominate. Dictators are said to represent the negative aspect of Leo.

The taming of this life force to bring it under conscious control of the individual is a constant theme in mythology. Jungian psychology sees most dragon slaying myths in this light. The Greeks equated Leo with the first of Hercules’ twelve labors, the slaying of the Nemean Lion where Hercules represents the conscious will gaining control over the vital passion, symbolized by the lion. Then there is the Babylonian hero Gilgamesh who needed to slay a pride of lions on his journey to the otherworld so he could collect the herb of mortality to bring his friend back to life. Then the Tarot card Strength is associated with Leo. It depicts a woman closing a lion’s mouth and the meaning of this is for the native to tame their vital force or animal nature by consciously directing their will.

The poor sun god not only meets his ritual death in Cancer at the Summer solstice in some archaic times, he also becomes a symbolic sacrifice during the month of Leo where the Night force grows longer in the Northern Hemisphere. There is also a theme in Celtic mythology where the hero slays the god of summer to allow the god of the underworld, winter, to emerge. The Druids celebrated this seasonal change as well as a harvest festival, at Lammastide on the 2^nd of August; this was the funeral of the sun god.

As a symbol of power the Sun is an appropriate ruler for Leo, but Jove (Jupiter or Zeus) with the mother of god also became one of Leos’ leaders. This is why Leos are seen to be jovial and to project a band of cheer and good fellowship. The mother of god is Rhea the wife of Chronus; she gave birth to many children, including Zeus. Rheas place of worship where the mountains and caves and her animals were lions. This is the association with Jove as a leader.

Another Leonine character from Greek mythology is Atalanta who was the daughter of Iasus, her father was disappointed that she was a girl and abandoned her on a mountain top. She was raised by a female bear, Artemis in the form of a bear one of her many animal totems. Atalanta therefore developed keen hunting skill as well as a powerful athletic ability surpassing those of all mortals in the land. She actually accompanied Jason on the Argo and took place in the Calydonian boar hunt and she was a serious contender in any athletic event. She was not fond of men as a mate but enjoyed having them as competitors; she always equaled or surpassed them especially in hunting events. Competitive and competent in sport like Athene and Artemis, the goddesses also associated with the fire signs Aries and Sagittarius Atalanta represents the fiery, independent skilled Leo type for whom athletics, games and adventure are all alluring.  Suitors were always coming asking for her hand in marriage so she devised a contest the she knew she could win, if any man could beat her in a foot race they could take her as their bride. Three golden apples were placed in her path on the course so she bent down to pick them up and lost precious time in doing so. She was defeated by Melanion hence they married and had a child. The myth goes that they were eventually turned into lions for affronting Zeus.

Many Mythological associations with Leo refer to kings and queens, fearless heroes and heroines presiding over wild beasts of the jungle representing fearlessness and courage. Leo is said first to outwit the beast or enemy and second to protect its offspring or kingdom from such enemies. In ancient times Kings and tribal leaders earned their position as rulers because e they displayed strength and mastery over their challengers, their subjects standing in awe of them.

It is not unusual for us today to see our sports teams as warrior going out to defend their country’s title, should they win they come back as the victorious kings and heroes. The warrior stage is linked to the first fire sign Aries and the conquering hero to the second fire sign of Leo.

Hercules the Greek hero displayed his power in seemingly impossible situations; his twelve labors are reminiscent of the sun’s progress through the zodiac.

There is a bright star in the constellation of Leo called Regulus, known as the heart of the Lion, this star also give Leo much of its character. It was known as one of the watchers on the horizon – a group of four stars that rose at the equinoxes and solstices in Babylonia. The other three were Antares, Aldebaran and Fomalhaut. Regulus was the star of the summer solstice, the time of the year where there is maximum solar force hence the association with Leo, the sun and fixed fire.

Leo is the tamer of the beast, the king of the mountain; in human experience these high spirited solar leaders aroused fear and envy. The association between a person and his or her progeny is usually show in astrology by Leo or the fifth house. As if they were kings and queens raising perfect thoroughbreds, Leos keep a watchful and protective eye on their children or children of their creative minds, just like a lioness protecting her cubs. Leos creations are like replications of their selves and as such maintain an honored place in their Lives. People with Leo ascending are on a quest to develop their regal natures so they often find themselves in leadership situations by choice or appointment.

In Cancer the larger than life figure is the mother, in Leo it is the father because of the signs association with the Moon and Sun are the respective rulers. In Capricorn we will encounter a strong father connection again as we did with Aries earlier. All fathers have a different nature. In Aries the father was a competitor or a tyrant to be overthrown, in Leo the father has an inner personal heart connection with the child and in Capricorn the father represents the exterior public father/child connection based on approval. Leo and the Sun are associated with solar based heroes and this is how the father is viewed by the small Leo child.

We have seen the connection with Leo and the heart. The heart chakra in the seven chakra system is poised strategically at the center providing a vital link between the lower three chakras representing the instinctual or animal nature and the upper three centers representing the divine nature. The heart center is how the human can combine the two natures and face the most difficult of all challenges. The life force or kundalini power as it begins to uncoil itself from its slumber; the glyph for Leo can sometimes represent this kundalini power.

One of humanities biggest killers is heart disease, where the pathways to the heart have been obstructed for some reason. In today’s society often a man is measured by his wealth and power the price is often his heart.

The Leo energy in a natives chart is where we find leadership, bravery and the life force of the chart. It is a place where we will compete to be our best to succeed and to shine.

Reference: Mythic Astrology, Guttman and Johnson