The LEO Myth

Hercules was the son of the god Zeus and a mortal woman Alcmene. The goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus, resented the presence of Hercules and made several attempts to kill him as he grew up. His mighty strength always saved him but one day, walking in the hills, he met two women one called Pleasure and the other Virtue. Pleasure offered him a life of peace and riches, Virtue a life of hard work, trouble and sorrow but with glory at the end. He chose Virtue and went on his way.
Earlier that year Hercules had relieved the city of Thebes from having to pay a tribute to a neighbouring state and as a way of thanks the king, Creon, offered his daughter Megara to Hercules in marriage. The two were happy together and soon had children to complete their joy. Hera,seeing this, now saw her chance to crush Hercules. She twisted his mind with a madness which made him believe his wife and children had betrayed him and become his enemies. In a fit of rage he slew his children in front of his terrified wife's eyes before turning and killing her. As the madness passed, he saw what a terrible deed he had done and vowed to travel to the oracle at Delphi to ask what he must do to atone for this terrible deed. The Oracle commanded Hercules to travel to the city of Tiryns and there serve the king Eurystheus for 12 years and faithfully carry out every task he was set.
The first of these tasks was to kill a huge lion that had been preying on the people of Nemea. To prove he had truly defeated the beast hercules was commanded to bring back the lion’s skin.
As the early morning sun crept above the horizon, Hercules saw the lion returning to its cave. Throwing his spear with all the strength he could muster he was amazed to see it glance harmlessly off the beast’s side. Neither his sword nor his arrows had any effect on the creature. Enraged, the great lion leapt at Hercules, growling with such force that the earth shook. Hercules raised his club above his head and brought it down with incredible force onto the lion’s head. Dazed and confused the beast staggered into the cave, where he was caught in the net Hercules had placed earlier. After a mighty struggle, the warrior managed to get his hands round the lion’s throat and with a supreme effort tightened his grip until the creature lay lifeless at his feet.
Taking the lion’s claw Hercules removed the skin. From the hide he fashioned a cloak and out of the head, a helmet.
Terrifying as the Nemean lion had been he was also one of the most magnificent creatures that has ever roamed the earth. In its memory the Gods placed its spirit up in the heavens for all to see.