Heracles And The Nemean Lion

11” X 14”

350.00

Heracles’ first labor was to kill the Nemean Lion. The lion was abnormally large, and it’s thick hide made it impervious to even the sharpest spears or arrows. Ambushing the creature, Heracles fired a volley of arrows at it, only for them to fail to find any purchase. The lion charged, and Heracles met the attack with his club. After shattering the club over the beast’s head, the lion retreated to his cave in the hope of the ringing in his ears dissipating. Having blocked off one entrance of the cave, Heracles entered the earthy maw determined to overcome the trial or die in the attempt. Abandoning the weapons that had failed him, Heracles attacked the lion head on, and though he lost one of his fingers in the melee, he managed to get his opponent into a chokehold. Using his weight, and his inhuman strength, he held fast through the beast’s thrashing, and finally, it’s death throes. Triumphant at last, he carried the corpse on his shoulders, he dropped it at the feet of Eurystheus, who terrified, ordered Heracles to never enter Tiryns again, demanding that he display future proof of completion of his labors at the city’s gates. Heracles the used the lion’s claws to removed its hide, which he wore as armor from that point on.