Sacred Animals
Animals were also dedicated to special deities, the wolf, gryffon and crow being sacred to Apollo; the dragon and panther to Bacchus; the stag to Diana; the serpent to Æsculapius; the deer to Hercules; the heifer to Isis; the eagle to Jupiter; the peacock and lamb to Juno; the dog to the Lares; the horse and vulture to Mars; the cock to Mercury; the owl to Minerva; the bull to Neptune; the dove, swan and sparrow to Venus; and the lion to Vulcan.
The lion also is the emblem of the tribe of Judah and is symbolical of the Resurrection. According to tradition the lion whelp is born dead, and so remains for three days, when the father breathes on it and it receives life.