Lion Head

This is a very small bronze head of a lion that was found at Nemea.  Because of the legend of Heracles killing the lion of Nemea — the lion is intimately associate with Nemea.

Heracles was the son of the god Zeus and a mortal Alcmene.  Although originally a mortal, he eventually attained divine status and was widely worshiped throughout Greece.  As punishment for killing six of his children he had to perform 12 “labors” (= very difficult tasks).  The first of which was to kill the Nemean Lion.  He wrestled with the lion, strangled it, and subsequently used its pelt as a cloak.

 

For a view of an image of Heracles with the pelt of the Nemean Lion Click Here.