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The Nemean lion (Modern Greek, Λέων της Νεμέας (Léōn tēs Neméas); Latin: Leo Nemaeus) was a vicious monster in Greek mythology that lived in Nemea. He was eventually killed by Heracles.

The lion was usually considered the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, but it was also said to have fallen from the moon as the offspring of Zeus and Selene. A third origin has it being born of the Chimera.

[edit] Childhood

The Nemean Lion was one of the children of Typhon and Echidna who was sent by his father to Nemea, the beast terrorized the city. After the lion had been slain, the pelt of the Lion became a battle spoil. The pelt is said to be impenetrable.

Other sources say that Selene the moon goddess was the mother of the Lion.

[edit] The First Labour of Heracles

Heracles slaying the Nemean lion. Detail of a Roman mosaic from Llíria (Spain).

The first of Heracles' twelve labours, set by King Eurystheus (his cousin) was to slay the Nemean lion and bring back its pelt.

Heracles was sent to do impossible labors because the king was afraid he would overthrow him. It took Heracles a little while to finish all of the tasks such as killing the Nemean lion.

Heracles wandered the areas until he came upon the town of Cleonae. There, a boy met him and swore:If Heracles slew the Nemean lion (who lived in a cave) and returned alive within 30 days of leaving, they would sacrifice a lion to Zeus, the king of all the ancient Greek gods. If he did not return within 30 days or he died, however, the boy would sacrifice himself to Zeus.^{[citation needed]}

While he was looking for the lion, he made arrows to use against it, not knowing that it was impervious. When he found the lion, he started shooting arrows at the lion, but the lion would not die. After some time Heracles made the lion return to his cave. The cave had two entrances, one of which Heracles blocked; he then entered the other. Because the lion's skin was impenetrable, Heracles was forced to stun the beast with his club and strangled it. He then used the lion's own claws to cut off its pelt. There is another version that says that Heracles tried to shoot it with arrows, and he eventually shot it in the throat and killed it.

When he returned to the King, King Eurystheus was shocked. He gave Heracles the lion's invincible pelt to wear as a cloak, but warned Heracles that the tasks set for him would become increasingly difficult and then King Eurystheus sent Heracles off to complete his next, more difficult quest.

Heracles completed this task over the course of three months when he was eighteen years old.

[edit] External links

• Encyclopedia Mythica - Nemean Lion

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