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File:Mosaic_Heracles_Nemean_lion_3rd_c_AD_AM_Paros_177040.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

EntityQ199438· pop 58· linked from 420 articles

Nemean lion

the lion killed by Hercules

AI overview

The Nemean lion was a fearsome creature from ancient Greek mythology that Hercules was tasked with killing as his first labor. Its significance lies in being a foundational part of the famous Twelve Labors of Hercules, one of the most enduring hero tales in Western culture.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Gender: male organism
Father: Typhon
Mother: Echidna
Sibling: Cerberus
Image: Herakles und Loewe.jpg
Residence: Nemea

Show 5 more facts

Commons category: Nemean Lion
killed by: Heracles
name in native language: Λέων Νεμεαῖος
described by source: The Nuttall Encyclopædia
P8168: Georgios Aspiotis

Sources (2)

via Wikidata · CC0

~11 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Mosaic: Nemean lion. 3rd century AD. Currently held in the Archaeological Museum of Paros. The Nemean lion (/nɪˈmiːən/; Ancient Greek: Νεμέος λέων, romanized: Neméos léōn; Latin: Leo Nemeaeus) was a mythical lion in Greek mythology that lived at Nemea. It is most famous for being one of the mythical beasts killed by Heracles (Hercules) in his 12 labours. Because its golden fur was impervious to attack, it could not be killed with mortal weapons. Its claws were sharper than mortal swords and could cut through any strong armour. After Heracles killed the lion, its pelt would come to symbolize Heracles and his strength, being used in art to both recognize the myth itself and to draw connections between Heracles' heroism and others.

Mythical origins

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Nemean lion” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.