Leo

The story

Leo's mythological ancestor is the Nemean Lion — target of Heracles' first of 12 labors. This lion wasn't ordinary: its hide was impenetrable to every weapon — no arrow, spear, sword. All the standard giant-hero weapons failed against it. Heracles had to strangle the lion with his own hands; cornered it in a cave, choked the breath out with bare hands. Killing the lion wasn't the only problem; skinning it was as hard, since no weapon could cut the hide. Heracles opened the hide with the lion's own claw — an ancient mythological logic: you can only finish a thing with itself. The lion skin became Heracles' armor, never wounded by any weapon.

Into the sky

To honor Heracles' victory, Zeus placed the lion in the sky. Leo's heart Regulus is one of the four royal stars — the star of kings and leaders.

Themes

• Nemean lion
• invincible beast
• Heracles' first labor
• lion skin