The Nemean Lion was a mythological creature, the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. It lives within the mountains of Nemea and would transform into a woman in distress, usually faking injury. When the man would come into the cave, the lion would take it's true form and kill the man. Heracles was sent to kill the Nemean Lion, one of his Twelve Labors.Heracles had to complete the twelve labours because madness was sent upon him by Hera and he wanted to repent for killing his wife and children. The Oracle of Delphi told him he must perform the twelve labours, and so he did.When Heracles aproached the town that the Nemean Lion had been terrorizing, a man approached him and said that if he came back within thirty days and had killed the monster, then a sheep would be sacrificed to the gods, but if he did not return then a sheep would be sacrificed to him. After hearing this, Heracles started his search for the monster.
The Nemean Lion had golden fur that was impervious to any attack, and so the only way Heracles was able to kill him was strangulation. The cave in which the Nemean Lion dwelled had two exits and so before Heracles fought the monster, he blocked off one side with a giant stone. He then went into the cave and attempted to shoot the Nemean Lion with an arrow, which simply deflected off his fur. Heracles thought fast and jumped on top of the lion and started to strangle him. After the lion was dead, he tried skinning him but found the only way he could was to use the monster's own claws. After he skinned the lion he used the fur as armor for himself. In all stories and pictures of Heracles after this, he is always shown wearing the fur from the lion. Connection to Lightning Thief When Percy is riding on a train he sees what he thinks is a lion, possibly a reference to the Nemean Lion. Sources-Information Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Hyperion Books, 2006.
Nemean Lion
The Nemean Lion was a mythological creature, the offspring of Typhon and Echidna. It lives within the mountains of Nemea and would transform into a woman in distress, usually faking injury. When the man would come into the cave, the lion would take it's true form and kill the man. Heracles was sent to kill the Nemean Lion, one of his Twelve Labors.Heracles had to complete the twelve labours because madness was sent upon him by Hera and he wanted to repent for killing his wife and children. The Oracle of Delphi told him he must perform the twelve labours, and so he did. When Heracles aproached the town that the Nemean Lion had been terrorizing, a man approached him and said that if he came back within thirty days and had killed the monster, then a sheep would be sacrificed to the gods, but if he did not return then a sheep would be sacrificed to him. After hearing this, Heracles started his search for the monster.
The Nemean Lion had golden fur that was impervious to any attack, and so the only way Heracles was able to kill him was strangulation. The cave in which the Nemean Lion dwelled had two exits and so before Heracles fought the monster, he blocked off one side with a giant stone. He then went into the cave and attempted to shoot the Nemean Lion with an arrow, which simply deflected off his fur. Heracles thought fast and jumped on top of the lion and started to strangle him. After the lion was dead, he tried skinning him but found the only way he could was to use the monster's own claws. After he skinned the lion he used the fur as armor for himself.
In all stories and pictures of Heracles after this, he is always shown wearing the fur from the lion.
Connection to Lightning Thief
When Percy is riding on a train he sees what he thinks is a lion, possibly a reference to the Nemean Lion.
Sources-Information
Riordan, Rick. The Lightning Thief. New York: Hyperion Books, 2006.
Rouse, WHD. Gods, Heroes, and Men of Ancient Greece. New York: New American Library, 2001.
"Nemean Lion" Wikipedia. 16 Sep. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemean_lion>
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http://wikiwebclass.wikispaces.com/The+1st+Labor+%E2%80%93+To+Kill+The+Nemean+Lion