Final answer:
The lion symbolizes power, dominance, and authority across different cultural and literary contexts, often associated with initiation grades, mythological strength, and royal prowess.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the symbolic representation of the lion within various literary and historical contexts. To accurately describe the lion in the context of metamorphosis, we should consider different cultural and literary examples. In the Mithraic mysteries, the lion is a highly regarded figure, associated with the grade of initiation that concerns itself with fire and incense. Meanwhile, in Aesop's fable, the lion is a figure of power that enforces the principle that 'might makes right.'
Numerous stories and myths, including those related to Hercules wearing a lion's skin, parallel the ferocity and power of lions in other cultural contexts, such as the Chinese lions depicted in Momoyama daimyo castle interiors or the Mesopotamian royal lion hunts. The lion, in general, is often used as a symbol of power, dominance, and authority, transcending the physical manifestation to a metaphorical level that reflects socio-cultural values.