| Nemean Lion | |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Family | Typhon (father) Echidna (mother) |
| Status | Reforming |
| Eye Color | Unknown |
| Hair Color | Gold fur |
| Height | Size of a pick-up truck |
| Affiliation | Titans |
| Weapons | Claws
Nemean lion's pelt |
| Species | Monster |
| Home | Unknown |
| Greek/Roman form | None |
| Appearances | The Lightning Thief The Titan's Curse Dee Dee and the Man |
| Actor | None |
| Quests | None |
The Nemean lion is a monster that is best 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.
History
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 Olympians
The Lightning Thief
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 Curse
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 andBianca 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. When Percy was about to offer the pelt to Poseidon, Zoë asked Percy why he is going to offer the pelt, Percy said he is not Hercules, that seemed made Zoe surprised. The pelt was later offered to Poseidon so theOphiotaurus could make it to Camp Half-Blood safely.
Abilities
- Impenertable fur.
- Immense strength.
- Razor -sharp claws.
- Razor-sharp fangs.
Spoil of War
- Main article: Nemean Lion's Pelt
The Lion's spoil of war was its pelt. Percy Jackson receives this when he defeats it, and Hercules 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.
Appearance
The Nemean Lion was the size of a pick-up truck, with silver claws, two heads, string on it tail and golden glittering fur. Its fangs gleamed like stainless steel.