The Nemean Lion: Ancient Greek Mythology

Hercules was a very strong hero. The Greeks would have valued the superhuman attributes that Hercules possessed such as strength. The Greek Gods valued his strength because of how he defeated the creatures like no human or not many other heros could. Not only did Hercules kill these creatures, but he did it in a way which expressed and showed his true strength. This was shown when he traveled to the city of Lerna to kill the nine-headed Hydra. The Hydra was a poisonous, snake like creature who lived underwater. The Hydra had one job, to guard the underworld and destroy everyone who tries to pass. Even though he had some help from his nephew, Hercules still managed to cut off each of the creatures heads while his nephew burned each wound to prevent the heads from growing back. 12 extremely hard labors that no human in the world could ever accomplish. These labours included killing many gigantic creatures, such as the nine headed hydra, the cretan bull, and the cerberus. All of these labours were impossible. No other hero or human could ever complete these 12 labours even if they had his strength because nobody had the perseverance he had. This is what hercules did to receive forgiveness from the God Apollo. During this journey, the mortal son of Zeus showed his determination as he completed these tasks. Hercules never gave up during these 12 labours which led to the reputation of him having perseverance, and a strong will to survive.

“Hercules demonstrated his strength right from birth. He choked the serpents that had been sent to him by the jealous Hera.” (classicsunveiled.com)

Probably some of the most fearsome and violent monsters contain characteristics of a lion. A prime example is the Nemean lion. This lion was vicious and could not be hurt by bronze or stone. Since the lion is a very powerful and fierce animal, this monster is especially feared because it is partially lion and invincible to weapons. The Griffin is another ferocious monster that has the body of a lion but the head and wings of an eagle. It is especially known to guard treasure. It is a mix of the lion, the king of beast, and the eagle, king of birds, so it was very powerful. In general, monsters with lion characteristics are very powerful and feared.

Hercules was a character portrayed in classic Roman Mythology. He was known to be the son of Zeus, and went on many great adventures throughout the lands; saving lives, defeating villains, and slaying treacherous monsters. Throughout his many trials, he gained fame, fortune, and a place amongst the Gods of Olympia. By looking at the mythological stories of Hercules, we can see that many of Joseph Campbell’s “Stages of the Hero’s Journey” can be applied to the stories about him.

Second Hercules went to the city of Lerna to kill the nine-headed Hydra—a poisonous, snake-like creature who lived underwater, guarding the entrance to the Underworld. Hercules third task was to capture the sacred pet of the goddess Diana a red deer, or hind, with golden antlers and bronze hooves. Fourth Hercules used a giant net to snare the terrifying, wild boar of Mount Erymanthus. His fifth task was supposed to be humiliating as well as impossible cleaning all the dung out of King Augeas’ enormous stables in a single day. His sixth task was to travel to the town of Stymphalos and drive away the huge flock of carnivorous birds. His seventh task was to go to Crete to capture a rampaging bull that had impregnated the wife of the island’s king. His eighth task was to capture the four man-eating horses of the Thracian king Diomedes. His ninth labor was complicated stealing an armored belt that belonged to the Amazon queen Hippolyte. Hercules tenth task was in Africa to steal the cattle of the three-headed, six-legged monster Geryon. His next task was to steal Hera’s wedding gift to Zeus, a set of golden apples guarded by a group of nymphs known as the Hesperides. His final task was to travel to Hades to kidnap Cerberus, the vicious three-headed dog that guarded its gates. Hercules completed all the

1.The Nemean Lion: Hercules task was to “Kill the Nemean Lion.” Hercules was ordered because King Eurystheus told him to complete the tasks. He went to Cleonae, a town, this is where he was offered to stay. A person had requested him to get a lion's skin. Hercules requested the person to wait for thirty days. Finally, he killed the ferocious beast, and he carried it to Cleonae. After that, he returned to Mycenae where King Eurystheus was amazed by his accomplishment.

I am doing my western hero on the great Hercules. Hercules was the son of Zeus, the supreme Greek god, and Alcmena, the Queen of Tiryns. Because Zeus' wife Hera was jealous of his affairs with earthly women, she was determined to destroy Hercules. When Hercules was one year old, Hera sent two serpents into his crib to kill him. Hercules grasped the snakes with his bare hands and killed them. Fast forward to adulthood while married to his wife Megera, Hera could not tolerate the situation and so sent upon him a madness in which he killed his children(and, in some versions, his wife as well). For his punishment, twelve labors were given to him by King Eurystheus of Tiryns. They were to slay the Nemean Lion and bring back its skin, slay the

Hercules was brave as he was smart he was the only and the first to kill the Nemean Lion. The Nemean Lion was a very vicious monster in the Greek Mythology that lived in Nemea. It could not be killed with Mortal weapons because the Lion's golden Fur was impervious

The lion had unpierceable skin, no one had ever been able to cease the lion. After Hercules killed the lion he used the skin as clothing and the head and jaws of the lion as a helmet. Hercules next labor was to kill the Lernaen Hydra. In order to slay the hydra Hercules would cut off the head and Iolaus, Iphicles’ son, would burn the hydra’s cut head so the next two wouldn’t be able to grow back in its place. King Eurystheus did not accept this labor because Hercules had help. Hercules next labor was to ensnare the Cerynean Hind. The Cerynean Hind was deer that belonged to the god, Artemis. The deer had golden horns. He chased the deer for a year. Hercules did not harm the hind in anyway after capturing it because Hercules nor did king Eurystheus, didn’t want any punishment from the gods (yale.edu, 4-5). The next labor Hercules had was to the capture the Erymanthian Boar. After Hercules brought the boar back to the king, the king hid in a pot. Hercules released the boar in the ocean and the boar swam away. After that Hercules next labor was to clean the Augean stables. The stables housed cattle and hadn’t been cleaned in years. Hercules finished the cleaning in one day but he was paid for it. Therefore King Eurystheus did not count it as one of his labors. Hercules next task was to remove the Stymphalian Birds. The bird’s beaks, claws, and feathers were made of bronze. One of their feathers falling from the sky could

The romans had many myths. One of these myths was the story of Hercules. This myth states that Hercules was a god who became a mortal. He had to accomplish twelve tasks to become imortal again. Although this may appear odd to us it was very important in the time of the Romans because it helped people relate to their gods.

Hercules conquered all 12 labors and he become immortal and will be a god. Hercules had strength which help in his journey and is also a Greek people valued.

These include killing mythical creatures deemed to be legendary creatures that were impossible to slay. While we find out later in the movie Iolaus has created these stories to put fear in all of Hercules enemies. With this legend that surrounds Hercules, he goes about the land as a mercenary killing any enemy that someone will pay him to remove. He does not go alone though as the myth that surrounds him may present. He has four skilled warriors who help him on his quests and his nephew Iolaus whom builds the legend of Hercules around the group. The group then is called on by Lord Cotys of Thrace to defeat warlord Rheseus. Lord Cotys tells Hercules that Rheseus is invading his lands and will surely destroy everything. Hercules leads Lord Cotys army into Rheseus’s lands and destroy his army and slay Rheseus. Hercules realizes that Lord Cotys has tricked him into defeating Rheseus so that he could conquer all of Greece. Hercules and his band of warriors defeat Lord Cotys and restores freedom for Greek

In the movie, Hercules had to battle many animals and monsters, including the evil god of death and the hydra. He had a friend Pegasus that helped him on his journey.

A prime example is the Nemean lion, which Heracles defeated as his first labor. It was fierce and could not be hurt by bronze or stone. It shows its power with violence and physical superiority. The Griffin is another ferocious monster that has the body of a lion but the head and wings of an eagle. It is mostly known to guard treasure. It is a mix of the lion, the king of beast, and the eagle, king of birds, so it was extremely dominant. Finally, the Sphinx was a lion with a human head. It guarded the gates to the Greek city of Thebes. When a visitor wanted into the city, the Sphinx would ask them to solve his riddle. Thus, the Sphinx never used violence to guard the entrance. People wishing to enter the city knew of his power and physical capabilities. So even though the Sphinx never used violence, people knew of its strength and power anyway because he was partially lion. All in all, monsters with lion characteristics are very powerful and feared.

Heracles was commanded by Eurystheus to bring to him the hide of the Nemean Lion. The lion had been terrorizing the valley of Nemea. The lion was a monstrous offspring of Echidna and one of Orthus or Typhoeus, or had plunged from the moon (Selene) to the earth.