The Nemean Lion

The Nemean Lion is the first labor assigned to Hercules. The legend goes that Hercules is to kill and bring the pelt of the lion to King Eurystheus. The Lion is said to have had impenetrable skin that could not be cut by no ordinary sword. The lion lived in a cave located in the hills of Nemea. The strategy for Hercules was to fight the Lion one on one and hopefully survive with the help of his weapons at hand. Sword, Shield, Bow and Arrow. However none of these got the job done. So the only weapon he had left was his bare hands. Fighting the Lion is a example of human willpower against the power of nature. 

After a long battle, Hercules strangled the Lion. Because none of his weapons could skin the beast, so the only thing sharper that his weapons was the Lion's claws. When Hercules brought the pelt to Eurystheus, blood dripped on the palace floor, henceforth Hercules was to show proof outside the city gates. Because Eurytheus was so terrified of the lion's carcass that he let Hercules keep the pelt. That was now his armor. Thats why in some paintings he is depicted wearing a lion's pelt.As in relations to Anthropology the Nemean Lion has ties to Nemea and the constellation of Leo. The constellation itself can be said to have been a homage to Hercules.

"Slaying the Nemean Lion. GREEK MYTHOLOGY." N.p., Web. 1 Feb. 2014. <https://sites.google.com/site/basicgreekmythology/hero-s/hercules/slay-the-nemean-lion>.