ANCIENT NEMEA MYTH OF HERAKLES Red figure vase depicting Herakles fighting the Nemean Lion Nemea also holds a prominent position in Greek mythology as the site of the first labor of Herakles, the slaying of the Nemean lion. The skin of this beast was impenetrable and Herakles was forced to wrestle and strangle the lion. Using the lion's own claws, he removed the skin which he then wore as a coat of armor. Given the popularity of this myth, it is something of a surprise to learn that it was not until the Roman period that the connection was made between the killing of the Nemean Lion by Herakles and the founding of the Nemean Games. In other words, a clear distinction was made in Greek antiquity between the Lion on the one hand and the Games on the other; the former as a cause for the latter was a scholary construct of late date. Myth and History Home Page Myth of Hypsiplye  Myth of Ophletes Myth of the Seven Against Thebes Top of Page   All materials from this site are copyrighted. Materials may be used with permission upon request. This web site was designed and developed by Susannah L. Van Horn; please direct comments and inquiries to: nemeaucb@berkeley.edu