Nemean Lion
Hercules was commanded to obey his cousin Eurystheus the king of Mycenae he feared that with a greater reputation the hero Hercules would try to take his throne so Eurystheus ordered him a labor that seemed impossible he would have to exterminate a giant beast known as the Nemean.
That beast withered the herds in the region and after devouring a couple of men it developed a taste for human flesh people said that the beast was the son of the monstrous Typhon and the malignant echidna and for that reason there were rumors that its Pelt was invulnerable to traditional weapons.
The Nemean Lion was also smart, several hunters had tried to trick it with poisoned meat. The lion never ate the meat. He did, however, eat the hunters.
Hercules with his bow and arrow and his powerful Club went hunting the creature, the hero spent some time in the forests of Nemean looking for the lion until he finally found traces that led up to the cave where the monstrous feline was hidden.
Hercules entered the monster’s lair full of animal bones and human skulls, from the bottom of the cave it was possible to hear the sounds of the giant animals breath. Hercules spotted the beast on a stone and shot one of his arrows against the animal’s head, it rebounded on the animals Pelt. Furious, the gigantic lion unleashed a mighty roar and prepared to attack.
Hercules and the lion jumped, one against the other, the lion exposed its powerful claws whereas the hero raised his mace. Hercules hit the creatures head which despite the devastating impact endured the attack with not a single scratch realizing that his weapons were useless. Hercules and the Lions started a melee the Lions stuck its claws into its opponent who withstood the excruciating pain of the wounds.
Hercules managed to encircle the animal’s neck with his arms initiated a deadly choke the Nemean lion could not resist the hero strength and succumbed making use of the animals claws Hercules managed to rip off its Pelt and return to Mycenae. Eurystheus watching Hercules as he approached dressed in the animal skin fearing for his life hid inside a metal barrel and so Hercules completed his first labor.