Heracles. The First Labor: the Nemean Lion
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Heracles and the Nemean LionThe Nemean Lion was a mythical lion of enormous size, offspring of Typhon and Echidna (other versions exist). It lived near the city of Nemea and hunted throughout the region. Its hide was impervious to any weapon. So it is no surprise that King Eurystheus ordered Heracles to kill it.
Heracles set out in search of the lion and searched for nearly a month before he came upon its lair in the mountains. It turned out to be a cave with two openings, one of which the hero blocked off. Then, lying in wait, Heracles began to watch for the beast. The lion appeared at dusk, and Heracles, choosing his moment, loosed three arrows at it. Not one even pierced its hide, for it proved as hard as steel. The beast roared and lunged at the man's audacity, but was immediately struck across the head with a heavy club. Heracles wasted no time — he wrapped his arms around its neck and held on until he had strangled it.
Heracles searches for the lionThe hero returned with the lion's body to Nemea, to the temple of Zeus. He sacrificed the animal to the god and established the Nemean Games, a competition very similar to the Olympic Games.
Heracles defeats the Nemean LionHeracles then carried his trophy to Mycenae, to King Eurystheus. The king was utterly terrified — both of the defeated beast and of the power the hero possessed. He flew into a rage and forbade Heracles from entering the city, ordering that from then on, all proof of his labors be shown to him outside the city walls.
Armor made from the lion's hideHeracles tried to skin the lion's body to make use of its magical properties, but the hide could not be cut by any tool. On the gods' advice, he used the lion's own teeth (in another version, its claw). Having skinned it, Heracles began wearing the hide as impenetrable armor, with the beast's head serving as his helmet.
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