What is the Jamaican lion?

The Jamaican Lion is the symbol of the Rastafarians, for whom the lion represents their Christ-figure, King Selassie I of Ethiopia. It is copied from the Ethiopian flag's conquering lion of Judah, symbol of Ethiopian royalty.

The Rastafarians maintain their own flag consisting of a background of the Rasta colors green, yellow and red, sometimes emblazoned with a crowned lion. This flag is often confused with the Jamaican flag, which is composed of triangle fields of green and black separated by a yellow "X." While Rastafarianism is often associated with Jamaica, only about 5 percent of Jamaicans adhere to the religion.