Black Panther Symbolism The names cougar, puma, panther, Black Panther, leopard, and mountain lion are often used interchangeably as they all belong to the class of animals grouped under the term ‘Panthera.’ The Black Panther is a melanistic leopard found in the moist, dense forests. He has a beautiful glowing black skin without spots or stripes. In ancient Greece, the panther was a symbol of Dionysos and their priests all wore panther skins. The Greek word for panther translated to ‘all-beast’ and referred to the Dionysos as ‘The All.’ Some ancient texts answer the question of what does the Black Panther symbolizes aptly. The Black Panther is a born leader and all animals follow him. His nature is considered to be ‘diverse’ and ‘uncontaminated.Over the last few decades, the Black Panther has become the symbol of ‘guardian’ angels.