Lions are not found in the land of the Fante people. The crowned lion is a popular European heraldic animal, which populated the flags of war ships and trade vessels that had cast anchor on the Gold Coast from an early stage. The lion depicted here is a metaphor for British dominion over the Gold Coast. The bird’s talons recall depictions of the griffin in European heraldry. This dragon/eagle hybrid creature symbolises vigilance, speed and, above all, invincibility. The entity – half-human half-animal ­– that the griffin seems to be attacking, is a forest or bush spirit, a Sasabonsam, who spreads fear and terror among humans. Author: Doris Kubisch