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Immortal Journey
The Tales of Heracles, Leo, Cancer,
Sagittarius, Centaurus, Draco, Sagitta and Cerberus
Chapter 2: The Nemean Lion
On his way to Nemea, Heracles met a poor
man named Molorchus who invited him in for food and a bed. As they
talked over dinner, Molorchus said, "I have had bad luck lately.
I think I must sacrifice an animal to Zeus, so he will give me better
fortune."
"Wait for thirty days before you do your sacrifice," Heracles said.
"I am on a dangerous mission. If I return from my hunt, you will
have something special to sacrifice to Zeus. If I do not return,
make your sacrifice in my honor." Molorchus agreed, and in the morning
Heracles left on his mission, content that his soul would be well
cared for.
Heracles easily found the lion's trail for it smelled of blood.
For three weeks he tracked the beast, familiarizing himself with
the creature's habits until he could predict it's prey, it's method
of attack, where and when it would rest. Heracles hid in ambush
by the spring where the lion came nightly to drink and hunt.
The pink sky of sunset had almost faded into night when all the
animals gathered at the spring went silent, pricking up their ears
and nervously turning their heads before dashing to the west. Heracles
watched as the lion approached from the east, proudly stalking his
territory. The lion raised his head and sniffed the air. Heracles
was close enough to see the lion focus, inch by inch, upon the ground.
He grabbed the bow that Apollo had given him and aimed one of the
golden arrows for the lion's heart.
Heracles shot the arrow perfectly, but though it went straight into
the animal's heart, the lion didn't fall. Instead he looked in his
attacker's direction, crouched low and moved toward his enemy. Heracles
let fly another arrow. It split the first in two but the lion still
did not react. Heracles remembered the words of the herald, "He
cannot be felled by metal or by stone." Heracles dashed away from
his hiding spot just in time, for the creature pounced upon the
blind from where his ambush had occurred. He growled as he clawed
the empty area, then he left, still bearing the arrows deep in his
heart.
Heracles grabbed his club and followed the lion to his lair in a
double mouthed cave. Heracles knew both entrances, for he had scouted
it earlier. After the lion entered, Heracles rolled a giant boulder
across the cave's mouth, then he circled half a mile away to the
cave's other mouth. Carefully making his way through the dark passage,
he saw the creature curled up asleep in a turn of the corridor.
He silently crept up behind his prey and brought the club down hard
upon the lion's head.
Although the crack echoed through the cave, there was no blood.
Instantly the lion came alert to tear his attacker apart with his
teeth and claws. Heracles knew he had no time. He encircled the
monster's neck with his arm and squeezed with all his strength.
The lion thrashed his head and his body shook, but Heracles held
on, squeezing tighter. The lion's movements became weaker and more
sporadic, until he collapsed and died.
Heracles continued his grip upon the lion. He squeezed for hours
until he could hold on no longer, just to ensure that the dead lion
could not return to life, then he threw the beast across his shoulders
to carry home his prize.
Thirty days had passed since Heracles had left the home of Molorchus
and, as Heracles walked up the path, he saw the old man sadly preparing
a sacrificial fire to honor his fallen friend. "I have something
special for your sacrifice," Heracles called out. Molorchus was
startled and turned to face the voice. A broad smile lit his face
as he saw Heracles approach, burdened with the lion.
Heracles took his knife and skinned the beast and together they
cut up the lion's body and placed its parts upon the bonfire. "Please
accept our sacrifice, father Zeus," they said as Zeus took the lion's
pieces from the fire and placed them directly into heaven. Each
piece of the lion was positioned like a puzzle and Zeus created
a special star as a marker for each part. The lion's mane he called
Juba and Zosma was it's rump. Regulus was the lion's heart and would
bring glory, riches and power, while Deneb, the tail, brought misfortune
and disgrace.
Heracles wrapped himself in the lionskin and appeared at the gate.
He was aware that his costume added intensity to an already fierce
image. The effect was not lost on the herald, for he visibly trembled
as Heracles approached. Together they walked into the courtyard
where Eurystheus was handling daily affairs with his advisors. The
busy chatter ceased as Heracles entered the room and the people
retreated from his path. The king registered a look of surprise,
but his face betrayed no other emotion.
Heracles removed the lionskin and spread it at his master's feet.
"Your second labor will be to kill the multi-headed Hydra of Lerna,"
Eurystheus calmly stated. "My herald will escort you to the gate;
and, herald, return to me when you're finished." With that, the
king turned his back to Heracles and Copreus motioned him to follow.
The low buzz of whispering could be heard as soon as they left the
room.
"I've never seen the Hydra," began Copreus, "but I hear she is enormous
with eight mortal heads and an immortal ninth head in the middle.
They say if one head is cut off, two more will grow in its place.
It is also said that poisoned blood flows through her veins and
the poison is so potent that even its touch will kill you. But,
as I've said, I've never witnessed it firsthand. She was born in
the marshlands of Lerna and now spends her time on the plains where
she has been known to kill entire flocks of sheep and goats." They
were at the gate and, as Heracles walked out to attack his new mission,
Copreus added, "May the gods protect you."
Copreus returned to Eurystheus. "From this point forward Heracles
will not enter the house," the king said. "He will display his results
before the gate and you will bring me word on the success of his
tasks."
"But who will assign him his future labors?" asked the frightened
herald.
"You will," answered Eurystheus.
Tales of
the Immortal Night ©2003, J.J. Kuhl
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