Hercules' first task, assigned by King Eurystheus who feared Hercules' power, was to slay the Nemean lion. When weapons proved useless against the lion's impenetrable hide, Hercules strangled the lion with his bare hands in a fierce battle. Upon returning with the lion's skin as proof, King Eurystheus fainted in fear, believing the lion had come back to kill him too, before realizing it was Hercules wearing the skin.
2. When Hercules arrived with his half- brother, the king Eurystheus was afraid that one day Hercules would try to take away his throne. But when he learned that the Oracle had put Hercules at his mercy, he decided that the first Hercules task would also be his last.
3. Eurystheus summon Hercules and he said to him that his first task was to slay the lion of Nemea and bring him a proof. But the king didnt say to Hercules that no weapon could pierce the lion skin.
4. Hercules armed with a spear, a strong net and his favourite club, was waiting for the lion. It was not long before the beast came. Hercules throw his spear hitting the lion卒s chest and bounced harmlessly.
5. The angry beast turned with its sharp teeth ready to tear him apart. Hercules took his club and hit him with all his power, but the lion was not even stunned. It attacked Hercules and slunk off to its den. He persued him into his cave and tied the net across the entrance so that could not escape.
6. The terrible fight began, Hercules with his bare hands and the lion with its sharp teeth and claws. He forced the beast into the net. The ground tembled as two wrestled to the dead. Finally Hercules strangled the lion.
7. When he went to skin the carcass, he found that his spear could not pierce its hide. Therefore he used the lion sharp to cut the shaggy beast.
8. Hercules returned to the king wearing the lion-skin over his shoulders, its head serving as a helmet. When Eurystheus saw him, the he fainted; he thought that the lion had killed Hercules and now me to kill him too.
9. Eventually the king realised that was Hercules in the lion-skin and shouted: You wont live to play tricks on me again