Who was the lion of Nemea?

Near Nemea, in the woods, there lived a terrible lion. It was the fear and terror of men and animals alike. It often came down to the plain and ate everything in front of it.Eurystheus therefore thought of sending Hercules. He ordered him to go and kill it and bring him its skin.

Hercules is looking for the lion

Hercules started with his club, his bow and his shuttles. He searched the plain, but the lion was nowhere to be found. Then he went into the forest looking for it.He walked around all day, but he could not find it.

Hercules and lion

Finally, his growls could be heard in the distance. He quickly approached and then he saw it. It was huge, with a terrible mane and sharp teeth. He was approaching his cave at that moment. Hercules climbed up on a small rock and began to throw shuttles at it. However, surprised, he saw that they did not pierce it, but fell down into the grass.

Hercules and the lioness

The lion, frightened, retreated to his cave. Hercules approached and saw that the cave had two doors. He closed one with a rock and, club in hand, entered through the other. Angry, the lion pounced upon him, but our hero struck him on the head with the club.

The victory of Hercules

The beast was stunned for a moment, but he pours on it again. Faster, however, Hercules had seized it by the throat and tightened his grip. The beast struggled, but soon it fell lifeless at the feet of our hero

Hercules and the Nemean Lion's skin 

He skinned it, put on the skin of the lion and came to Mycenae. So frightened was Eurystheus that he went and hid himself in a jar. This skin, the Nemean Lion's skin , was always worn by Hercules. And that's how everyone knows him, with the club and the lion's skin, from then on.