Herakles was instructed to kill the Nemean Lion as part of his first labor, and he set out to the region of Nemea, where the lion was said to dwell in a cave. Upon arriving, Herakles attempted to hunt the beast with his usual weapons—his bow and arrows—only to find that they had no effect on the lion. The lion’s impenetrable hide rendered every strike ineffective. Realizing that he would need to use a different strategy, Herakles decided to face the beast in hand-to-hand combat.

In the myth, Herakles engages the lion in a fierce struggle, using his immense strength to wrestle the creature to the ground. He eventually succeeds in strangling the lion with his bare hands, an act that highlights his incredible power. After the lion’s death, Herakles famously skins the creature with its own claws, since no knife or tool could pierce its tough hide.

The Nemean Lion represents a number of themes central to Greek mythology, such as the triumph of strength, perseverance, and resourcefulness over seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Herakles’ victory over the lion also symbolizes the hero’s ability to overcome the natural world’s most dangerous forces through sheer force of will and skill. The lion’s invulnerability and Herakles’ victory demonstrate the hero’s divine favor, for it is clear that only a demigod like Herakles could defeat such a mighty creature.

After slaying the lion, Herakles wears its pelt as a cloak or armor, and the lion’s head becomes a symbolic emblem of his might. The Nemean Lion’s skin, which is said to be impenetrable, became a recurring motif in representations of Herakles, appearing in art and sculpture as an iconic symbol of his heroic qualities.