Along with Odysseus, Hercules is one of the most famous Greek hero.His father considered himself Zeus, and his mother was death, which explained to him the hatred of Hera (wife of Zeus).Throughout his life, Heracles Hera plotting against him, and Zeus, Athena and Apollo, on the contrary, helped in every possible way.It should be noted that the labors of Hercules committed not to on their own.Hera arranged so that he had to serve his cousin, the king of Mycenae Eurystheus.Hercules did not know.It so happened that in a fit of madness, he dealt with his own children, and trying to make amends, he turned to the priestess of Apollo, to find out what he should do.Then it was predicted that the service will provide Eurystheus hero immortality, and only after that he went to Mykonos.
first feat of Hercules: The Nemean Lion
This monster was the first of those with whom Hercules had the opportunity to fight on the orders of Eurystheus.Leo lived in a mountain valley not far from the city Argolic Nemea.He was an enormous growth and remarkable force and with impunity devoured men and cattle, even during the day the shepherds did not go out of their homes and tried not to let the cows and goats.On the way to Hercules struck dumb stopped at a farmer Molorha.They agreed that if the hero does not come back after 30 days, Molorh would sacrifice their owners Aida last bar.If you have time to return to Hercules, the ram will be sacrificed to Zeus.To find a cave, where he lived the Nemean lion, the hero took just 30 days.He piled stones one of the inputs into it and hid near the other and waited for the monster appears.At sunset he saw a lion and shot him three arrows in a row, but none of them has broken through the skin.Leo rushed at Hercules, but he hit him with a club made of ash, cut down in a grove of Nemean, and then strangled blow stunned the beast.
Nemean Games
So was defeated Nemean lion.The first feat of the hero was given quite easily.He took off with the animal's skin, put it on and went to the home Molorha, who was just about to offer up a sacrifice to Hades and Persephone.
seeing Heracles, he was delighted and thanked Zeus because his son has won the lion and saved from the monster struck dumb.It is believed that Hercules also punished Molorhu to organize this event in honor of the Nemean Games (Olympic similar).Leaving the house of the farmer, he came to Mycenae and showed Efrisfeyu proof of their victory.On the skin of a huge king impressed.Subsequently, he avoided the personal contact with the hero and preferred to enjoy his spoils of the city walls.
Where did Nemean Lion?
There are two versions of the origin of the monster.According to the more familiar, the lion gave birth to Typhon and Echidna, chthonic deities the ancient Greeks.Other dogs are their children, and Orff Cerberus, Chimera and the Lernaean Hydra.Some of them also had to meet Hercules.A second version of the more exotic: the lion supposedly created the moon goddess Selene by order of Hera (again, not without the wife of Zeus).Leo was born from a magic foam, which Selena filled wooden box.After that, the goddess of the rainbow Iris tied the beast his magic belt and moved in struck dumb.
Leo the mountain Cithaeron
Beast of Nemea was not the first of those killed by Hercules.In his youth, the son of Zeus defeated the man-eating lion Kiferona from the slopes, which is devoted to separate myth.Kiferonskogo lion skin Hercules wore the same clothes as.
The episode with the killing of an animal with the Mountains Cithaeron not included in the list of feats.Perhaps once the Greeks there was a single myth Nemean lion kiferonsky and his kinsman had one.But then mythological subjects dispersed, and there were two different stories.
skin of the Nemean lion
As you know, the hero began to wear the skin as clothing and armor: it makes it invulnerable to the arrows.But one day he had to part with it: the fact that after the 12 labors he is for accidental killing each other was sold into slavery.
became his mistress Omphale, Queen of Lydia (Asian States).She did not force Hercules bringing her trophies, and had dressed him in women's clothes and ordered along with slaves to spin wool.According to some sources, Hercules was in love with his mistress (incidentally, demigoddesses) and is therefore not only allows himself to humiliate women's work, but did not object when Omphale dresses in skin Nemean lion and was armed with a club.
Constellation
After the Nemean lion was defeated Zeus lifted his body to heaven and turned into a constellation in memory of the heroism of his son.Constellation Leo is best observed in March-April - it is a highly stretched irregular hexagon.The brightest stars in it - Denebola and Regulus.
symbolic significance
first feat is sometimes interpreted allegorically scientists.So, the lion represents the human passion, aggression, which bring much suffering to others.The victory over the passions and vices requires endurance and ingenuity, hence the references to about 30 days of searching and a cunning plan of the hero.Nemean lion invulnerable to weapons, and Hercules strangling him with his bare hands.This means that to cope with their "demons" only on their own, without outside help.Finally, Hercules defeats the lion, and assigns it to the skin, that is, their subordinates passion and directs his abilities, if not a peaceful course, at least for the benefit of the people.
