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The most unique aspect of the constellation Leo the Lion is that it actually looks like a lion. Leo consists of a fair number of bright stars that form the shape of a lion, albeit a legless one. The west end of the constellation appears as, and is called, the "Sickle". This forms Leo's mane. Leo's backside and tail are represented by a triangle.
The ancient Egyptians venerated Leo the Lion and some are convinced that the Sphynx consists of Virgo’s head and Leo's body
The centerpiece of Leo, located at the sickle's handle, is alpha Leonis, or Regulus. Regulus has been called at various times the King, the Ruler, the Mighty and the Hero. Most of the bright stars have Arabic name; Regulus is the exception. Its name is the Latin diminutive of the world "king" and was chosen by the great Polish scientist, Copernicus himself.
Regulus is a rare example of a chance pair. It has a fellow star that can be easily seen through binoculars. These two stars just happen to be almost in the same line of sight from the Earth; they have no other connection with each other. The constellation Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac and Regulus is found almost directly on the ecliptic, so both the Moon and the planets will frequently pass right by it.