Nemean Lion
Title
Vital Statistics
Gender	Unknown
Family	Echidna (mother) Typhon(father) Orthus, Chimera (brothers) Sphinx (sister)
Status	Reforming
Eye Color	Unknown
Hair Color	Gold fur
Height	Size of a pick-up truck
Other
Affiliation	Titans
Weapons	Claws Nemean lion's pelt
Species	Monster
Home	Unknown
Greek/Roman form	None
Appearances	The Lightning Thief The Titan's Curse
Actor	None
Quests	None

The Nemean lion is a monster. It is known for being one of the beasts fought by Hercules as one of his twelve labors. The Nemean Lion is one of the children of the faded Titaness of the moon, Selene, and Zeus, which she bore on request of Hera and fell from the moon so the latter could send it after Hercules. It is also said to have been the son of Echidna and Typhon or the offspring of Orthus and the Chimera.

HistoryEdit

In Greek mythology, the slaying of the Nemean Lion was a task given to Hercules by his cousin King Eurystheus. After hearing his description of the lion, he was able to confront it, and did not use any weapons at first; instead he wrestled it to death. When he tried to cut its skin, his knife shattered, and eventually Athena told Hercules to use the lion's claws to skin it.

Percy Jackson and the OlympiansEdit

The Lightning ThiefEdit

While Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood were on the train to Denver, Percy looked out the window and saw a huge lion. He thought that was weird since there are no native lions in the United States, but eventually forgot about it.

The Nemean Lion was later depicted being defeated by Hercules during a firework display at Camp Half-Blood.

The Titan's CurseEdit

The lion was sent by Luke Castellan and the General at the National Air and Space Museum to stop the group of questing Hunters, demigods, and one Satyr. It battled with Percy, who recognized the monster from the time he saw one from the train during the quest to find Zeus' Master Bolt. The monster was incredibly hard to defeat because of its bulletproof and sword-proof pelt. Zoë Nightshade and Bianca di Angelo shot arrows at it from above, but they broke harmlessly against his pelt, while Percy and Thalia were too afraid to get in close and attack with their sword and spear respectively. Percy however came up with and idea and grabbed a few packets of astronaut food from the gift shop and tossed it into the lion's mouth when he roared. When the lion bellowed in disgust, Zoë fired arrows into the Nemean Lion's only unprotected surface, its mouth. The lion dissolved except for its pelt. The pelt was offered to Percy by Zoë because it was his plan that made it possible for them to defeat the monster. The pelt was later offered to Poseidon so the Ophiotaurus could make it to Camp Half-Blood safely.

AbilitiesEdit

• Impenertable fur.
• Immense strength.
• Razor -sharp claws.
• Razor-sharp fangs.

Spoil of WarEdit

Main article: Nemean Lion's Pelt

The Lion's spoil of war was its pelt. Percy Jackson receives this when he defeats it, and Heracles (Hercules in Roman Mythology), in Greek Mythology received it as well. When worn, it still has the same abilities of it being bulletproof and sword-proof (invulnerable to damage). In the modern day, the pelt takes on the appearance of a full-length golden brown coat, but for Hercules he wore it as a lion's coat and it became his identifiable look.

AppearanceEdit

The Nemean Lion was the size of a pick-up truck, with silver claws and golden glittering fur. Its fangs gleamed like stainless steel.

TriviaEdit

• The Nemean Lion terrorized the kingdom of Nemea, hence its name.