Hi, this question may be more of a job for /r/AskScience - or possibly /r/AskAnthropology depending on which kind of lions you're asking about - but in the meantime, you may be interested in a few mentions in these posts
Why are lions so prominent in the history of Europe? - /u/JoshoBrouwers discusses the symbolism of lions, and their former range
How common were wild lions in ancient Greece? - /u/plinythehipster talks more about their range and mentions in Greek lit
When did lions (cave or otherwise) die out in Italy? - featuring /u/Gargatua13013 and /u/Mulberry_mouse