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__**FIRST LABOR: THE NEMEAN LION **__



The first labor that Eurystheus asked of Hercules was for him to bring back the skin of the lion which terrorized the territory of Nemea. Once he got there, he tried shooting it with his arrows but it couldn't penetrate its dense skin. Hercules always carried a club with him and so he resorted to beating it with a club. Hercules was then able to grab its neck with his hand and strangled it. He brought the skin back to Eurystheus. The king actually became afraid of Hercules for doing such a courageous task and banned him from entering through the gates of the city but once the rumor spread of the lion's death, Hercules was honored. Then Hercules made the skin into a garment that he could wear. Hercules is depicted in this many times in ancient art. The skin of the lion is used to symbolize strength, power and courage which is why he proudly wore it.