Heracles and the Nemean Lion

The first of Hercules' twelve labours, set by his cousin King Eurystheus, was to slay the Nemean lion.
According to a narration some God, possible Hera, has sent the lion to the area of Nemea in order to threaten the people living there, the descendants of Foroneus (Φορωνεύς), hero and founder of the indigenous Pelasgians of Peloponesse and king of Argos.
Herakles on his way to find the lion, he passed by the village of Kleonai and found a farmer named Molorchos. Due to the lion, Molorchos´ son was dead and he wanted to sacrifice a boar to honour the stranger (Heracles). Heracles told him to wait. If he wouldn´t have returned within thirty days, then Molorchos could make the sacrifice to him as a hero. Otherwise, the sacrifice would honour god "Zeus-Saviour".
Heracles found the cave where the lion was hidden. He blocked the one way out and he entered into the cave by the other entrance of it. Some representations show him fighting the Lion with his sword and his lance, some others want him to achieve great hits upon the animal with his bat. Every different version of the story want Heracles to use his bare hands to battle with the beast and finish it. He teared the lion´s dermis using its own nails and he later on, was wearing its pelt. Father Zeus in order to honour his son-Heracles decided to raise the beast as a symbol in heavens, giving its place to the Zodiac circle. The sign of the lion is long used for centuries by Heracles´ descentants; the most famous of all, Alexander III of Macedon, or named from History as, Alexander the Great, outcoming from the Argead dynasty.

The whole story is much more than a tale of braveness and power. Symbols and meanings hidden on the background.
The interpretation of this labour really means a lot to all the people when seeking for getting deep into their mind, into their lives.



Statue found near the University of:


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