MYTH ABOUT LEO CONSTELLATION:
The myth is based on one of the Labors of Hercules, who committed it on the orders of Eurystheus, the king of Argos.
A huge lion was living in the suburbs of Nemea, which had an unbreakable by arrows skin. He shamelessly was feeding himself with both the herds of Eurystheus and people. Something had to be done about this and a people’s defender Hercules was sent to fight the murderer.
To defeat the beast, he pulled out an olive tree with roots from the ground, cleaned it of branches and twigs and made a hug stuck out of the trunk. With such equipment, augmented with bow and arrow, Hercules was ready for the battle.
It was a difficult and hot fight. The arrows were not able to penetrate the powerful hide of the beast and the blows on the lion’s head just infuriated him more and more every second. Hercules had to defeat him with bare hands. Justice triumphed and both animals and people were saved.
Eurystheus was very frightened to see even the dead monster on the shoulders of Hercules. Therefore he drove Hercules out of the yard and order his wife Hera to solve all the future issues with him through the messengers. The mighty warrior left himself the skin of a lion as a battle trophy. It became a raincoat for him which absolutely didn’t wear out during the time.
In commemoration of the Labor of Hercules the Nemean games began to be held. During the games, the universal peace in Greece was proclaimed. The lion was placed by the Gods in the sky in the form of a constellation with bright stars.
There are still available stars in constellation Leo which can become yours!
