Ahh that would make sense, tho they looked like lions from a distance, but ahh well there goes my theory lol
All though its rather unclear, whereas the heads look mabari. Mabari don't have long tails and the bodies looks more like lions to me.

I see stylized mabaris there, too. They look like the statues you see in the Hinterlands. Honestly I don't see mabaris
not being Ferelden's number one visual cue.
But even if we entertain the possibility that they might be lions, inherited imagery from the old tribes as R2 proposed, fact still remains that Orlais invaded Ferelden and half tore it apart only 35~something years ago, and most people over a certain age (specially those in nobility) would still be bitter about anything that reminds of Orlais, and specially of the usurper. Regardless of one's headcanon on how loyal to Ferelden Cullen is or is not, he still was born shortly after the reunification and likely grew up on tales of the war - add to that his general disdain for Orlesian society and nobility, and I can't really see him wanting to associate with such a topically Orlesian (and Valmontian) theme as lions.
I'm glad that helmet is gone, tbh, it really had nothing to do with him.