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4 ERASMUS+ KA2 Searching for the Labours of Hercules 2014-1-TR01-KA201-012990 but he soon realised that weapons were useless against the invulnerable animal. He seized his club and chased the lion into a cave with two entrances. Hercules obstructed one access and fought the beast with his bare hands. At the end of a fierce struggle, he seized the lion in his arms and clasped it tightly until he strangled it. Hercules laid the dead lion on his shoulders and headed for Cleonae. Italy – Killing the Nemean Lion The first task assigned by Eurystheus was to bring back the skin of the fierce lion which threatened the town of Nemea (Νεμέα), in the north-eastern part of the Peloponnese. The lion had been generated by Typhon (Τυφῶν), a dreadful monster and father of monsters, and was invincible. On his way to Nemea, Hercules stopped in Cleonae, at the house of a poor worker, Molochus. His guest offered to sacrifice a victim to Zeus to secure a safe lion hunt, but Hercules asked him to wait. Mycenae with his prey, to Eurystheus’ amazement. Greatly alarmed at Hercules’ strength, King Eurystheus refused to see the hero: he forbade him to enter the town and ordered to display the lion spoils outside the gates. Moreover, King Eurystheus had a large iron jar built and buried in the earth, where he could hide from Hercules’ fury, if necessary. From that day on,

03 italy nemean lion-SFTLOH Travel Guide

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ERASMUS+ KA2 Searching for the Labours of Hercules2014-1-TR01-KA201-012990

Italy – Killing the Nemean Lion

but he soon realised that weapons were useless against the invulnerable animal. He seized his club and chased the lion into a cave with two entrances. Hercules obstructed one access and fought the beast with his bare hands. At the end of a fierce struggle, he seized the lion in his arms and clasped it tightly until he strangled it.

Hercules laid the dead lion on his shoulders and headed for Cleonae. He found Molochus on the thirtieth day, ready to sacrifice a victim to Hercules’ heroic death and together they sacrificed it to mighty Zeus.

Then Hercules returned to

Mycenae with his prey, to Eurystheus’ amazement. Greatly alarmed at Hercules’ strength, King Eurystheus refused to see the hero: he forbade him to enter the town and ordered to display the lion spoils outside the gates. Moreover, King Eurystheus had a large iron jar built and buried in the earth, where he could hide from Hercules’ fury, if necessary.

From that day on, Hercules wore the lion skin “upon his back, hiding his yellow hair in [the lion’s] fearful tawny gaping jaws.” (Euripides). This is how Hercules is depicted in ancient and modern paintings and sculptures.

The first task assigned by Eurystheus was to bring back the skin of the fierce lion which threatened the town of Nemea (Νεμέα), in the north-eastern part of the Peloponnese. The lion had been generated by Typhon (Τυφῶν), a dreadful monster and father of monsters, and was invincible.

On his way to Nemea, Hercules stopped in Cleonae, at the house of a poor worker, Molochus. His guest offered to sacrifice a victim to Zeus to secure a safe lion hunt, but Hercules asked him to wait. After 30 days, if Hercules conquered the lion skin, they would sacrifice to Zeus, if he failed and died, Molochus would perform a sacrifice to Hercules, as to a hero.

As he reached Nemea, Hercules spotted the fearsome lion and immediately shot an arrow to him,