Nemean Lion
By: Ricky Simmons and Haley Smith
Hercules' First Task
King Eurystheus gave Hercules 10 tasks. He then decided that the first task he would give to Hercules would be to bring him the skin of the invulnerable Nemean lion that terrorized the hills around Nemea.
The Offer
Hercules set out on the seemingly impossible task, and came across a town called Cleonae. While in the town, he stayed at the house of a poor workman-for-hire named Molorchus. When Molorchus offered to sacrifice an animal to pray for a safe lion hunt, Hercules asked him to wait 30 days. If Hercules returned with the lion skin, they would sacrifice to Zeus, king of gods. However, if Hercules died trying to kill the lion, Molorchus agreed to sacrifice instead to Hercules as a hero.
Hercules and the Nemean Lion
Hercules traced the lion into a cave that had two entrances. He blocked one entrance and approached the lion through the other entrance. Hercules clutched the lion in his mighty arms, ignoring the powerful claws, and held on tightly until the lion was dead.
FUN FACT!!!
Fun Fact: Hercules is now well known in paintings and sculptures simply because he is depicted wearing a lion skin.
Hercules wearing the lions skin
30 days after he left for the hunt, Hercules returned to Cleonae, carrying the dead lion, and found Molorchus. Molorchus stayed true to his word, and he and Hercules sacrificed to Zeus together. When Hercules made it back to Mycenae, the king was amazed that he had completed such a difficult task. King Eurystheus became afraid of Hercules and forbade him from entering the city again.
Works Cited
Atsma, Aaron. "Leos Nemeios". www.theoi.com. Theoi Project, 2000-2011. Web. 20 Nov. 2013
"The Nemean Lion". www.Perseus.tuffs.edu. Perseus Project. n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013
"Labor One: The Nemean Lion". www.mythweb.com. n.p. n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013