For his first task, Heracles (Roman Hercules) had to slay the Nemean Lion, a terrible beast, and bring its skin to Eurystheus. It's skin was impenetrable, thus any weapons Heracles attempted to use, like his bow and arrow, a sword made of bronze, and even a club fashioned from an olive tree, were useless. To complete his task, Heracles first decided to kill the lion by wrestling it to the ground, and choking it with his bare hands.
When it came to skinning the beast, an angry and frustrated Heracles grew weary after much trying. It wasn't until an old woman (Athena in disguise) came by and informed him that he could use the lion's claws to tear the skin, that he was finally able to complete the labor.
Heracles wore the lion's hide as armor (this became one of Heracles' attributes, or symbols). The appearance of heracles in a lion's skin so frightened Eurystheus that he hid from the hero in a giant jar. From then on, he communicated with the hero solely through messenger.
Frustrated by his victory over the Nemean Lion, Eurystheus was forced to come up with a more challenging task.
