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Temple of the Lion  : The Darius Chronicles Vol. 1

Temple of the lion is an allegorical fiction novel written by Abdullah Kirk in 2011, who recounts an in depth history of Lions and the ancient world. The story tells the tale of a lineage of young Lion leaders that become the saviors to animal kind and humanity alike. The lions story starts from the beginning of their creation to the rise of the Assyrian Empire. It revolves around appointed leaders that were foretold to lead the lions in war against the enemy of all life on earth, the Nungeda, large monstrous lizard type creatures much like the dragons of fable, that seek domination over the planet. It is a book that addresses the plight and troubles of lions and much of the calamity they suffer.

It's clearly a Biblical allegory with Darius, who is the main character in the first volume, as some sort of quasi-Prophet and the Nungeda as traditional devilish serpents. Besides religious imagery the book draws on historical settings and personages, such as the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Ramses I, and the Assyrian Emperor Ashurbanipal.

Abdullah Kirk wrote this book originally under the name 'Temple of Aslan' and the name Aslan instead of Ari was to be used for the first of all Lions. After the coming out of the film 'Narnia', it was agreed to change the name to save from any confusion with the Lion Characters. Thus the name 'Temple of the Lion' was chosen instead. The book made its publication debut in 2011.

Plot Summary

The story begins with a creation story. ALAHAD, or God, created ARI, the first of the lions (known as the Akshaya), as well as a companion named URIEL and everything else on the Earth. The two reigned as king and queen of the Earth's animals before humans were created. The lions' five sons and five daughters spread their reign across the Earth. But soon this reign is challenged by a dragon, or Nungeda, named ASH. A lion army, including the Sargan (saber tooth tigers), battles this dragon for three years and is victorious. Ari is killed in the battle and divides his kingdom among his five sons. A long peace ensues until a rogue lion, TOURAJ, takes control of the kingdom. However, he is eventually killed by Alahad's chosen Sanjar warrior, ARDAK. Another period of peace ensues. The kings, or Lugal, have their capital at Akshaya, a place of lush natural beauty, tall mountains and clear skies. The main storyline opens with KUSAGRA, the current and last king, feeling troubled. He is a self-aggrandizing king and bent on keeping the various tribes under his rule. His brooding is interrupted by a visitor, AGRIM, who claims to be a prophet sent by Alahad. He is old; Alahad has preserved his life specifically for the current mission. Agrim has been sent to tell Kusagra that Alahad is displeased at the king's disobedience. He was supposed to “release the tribes” -- releasing them to populate distant lands -- during the fifth year of his reign but is five years overdue. Alahad will end the rule of the Lugal and institute a new race of lions, the Diyeen, who will be nurtured by a lowly prophet from among the lion class. Some of the lion tribes heed Agrim and leave the Lugal kingdom, but many stay. Kusagra devises a plan to prevent Agrim's prophecy from coming true -- kill every pregnant lioness and young lion younger than two years of age. After that is carried out, Kusagra becomes uneasy again when he learns the Nungeda have a new king, AZRA, and he does not wish to maintain the long-standing truce. A war begins. During the ensuing bloody battle, Kusagra is killed and there is a great massacre at the lions' capital, Temple Cave. Azra uses a new invention, fire, to kill many of the lions. The ones that flee becomes scattered; the tribe system breaks down. The dragons eventually retreat into the far North and humans rule the Earth. The empires of Sumer and Assyria come and pass. A popular legend in the animal kingdom is that Azra created humans and imbued them with the malevolent nature of the dragons. The lions stay far away from humans, fearing their bloodthirsty nature. The knowledge of Alahad fades away from the hearts of all races. In these dark times a new heroine is introduced. MAYSA, a lioness, is told by an owl that she will give birth to the first of the Diyeen, named DARIUS. It is prophesied that Darius will reunite the tribes. Meanwhile, a tribe leader named ZAFIR desires to reunite the tribes and reinstate the rule of the lions by massacring those he deems unfit, including Maysa's mate. His sons sire many cubs, but Maysa escapes this fate. She gives birth to her cubs in some faraway caves. Three are devoured by a cave lizard but one, the only male, survives. Darius grows into a very strong and beautiful lion. Zafir begins to suspect that Darius is not of his lineage. One day the head lioness tells Maysa that she has dreamed that Darius is in danger. Darius is about to be killed when Maysa steps in and is killed. Darius runs but Zafir's son, AZZAM, is on his tail. Both are nearly caught by a band of hunting humans. Azzam flees, wrongly assuming Darius will be killed by the humans. Darius, however, is merely captured and taken to Egypt where he's put into Ramses the First's menagerie. Soon he is sold and taken to Assyria, where he meets SARGON, a tiger, and NASIRA, a lioness. They are all the property of the Assyrian King, who uses them as fodder for blood sports. Nasira has been in captivity since she was a cub and does not remember her lineage or tribe. While in captivity Darius is forced to eat lion flesh and endure other miseries. One night Nasira has a prophetic dream and the two make a plan to escape, but not before Darius is forced to fight Sargon. Darius, against long odds, is victorious. Soon after that, Nasira is forced to fight the King. Darius visibly protests Nasira's absence so the King spares her life. Both lions become so famous after this that they are returned to Ramses in Egypt. One evening a caretaker accidentally leaves their cage unlocked and they escape. They wander for a long time, following the “visions” Nasira says will lead them to her pride. Darius has to teach Nasira how to hunt since she has been in captivity so long. During their wanderings Darius reveals to Nasira that he was chosen by Alahad to bring forth the reign of the Diyeen. When the two eventually find Nasira's pride, the reunion is short-lived: Darius is soon sent to fight the Nungeda. While on his new mission Darius is confronted by an owl who claims to be sent from Alahad. The owl gives him a new mission: find the Nuru, whose first duty is to unite a set of special stones, and unify the tribes. He journeys to Kulkhan, where some of his fellow lions do not realize who he is and engage him in battle. Darius discovers that one of the Kulkhan tribes has taken in a human child, AYANA, who is revealed to be the Nuru. Darius and the Kulkhan tribe then journey to Madhad, where the local tribe also joins Darius' caravan. As Darius travels he and his growing band successfully battle various clans of Nungeda. He also continues to gather the tribes, some through battle and some willingly. His progress is eventually halted by the leader of the Kaydar, NIJAD. Instead of warring with his tribe, Darius fights Nijad one-on-one. Darius is victorious but is fatally wounded and dies a short time later. Dissension ensues among the tribes and some of them break away from the rest. Darius's confidant KADIN takes up Darius's mantle and leads the remaining tribes toward Darius’s old kingdom, where Azzam is now in power. Two lionesses stay behind with Darius's body. The united tribes are locked in battle with Azzam's force when Darius, reborn through the will of Alahad, charges into the fight, leading the tribes that refused to continue without him. Darius kills Azzam and leads Ayana into a cave. The reptile who had tortured Darius’s mother many years ago is there. He is trapped there, where he must guard a special stone until the arrival of the Diyeen and Nuru. After the task of receiving the stone is complete, Darius’s stint as Diyeen is over and he leaves the newly united tribe. Many years pass in peace. Ayana continues to live among the lions until her 15th birthday. The peace does not last, however, as young lions grow old and new ones stray from the teachings of Darius. The last paragraphs of the story speak of a new Diyeen and imply that the cycle -- which will include more tasks for Ayana to complete as Nuru -- will start again with a new Diyeen.

Characters