a group of stars found in the constellation leo
Leo (constellation)
In Greek mythology , Leo was identified as the Nemean Lion which was killed by Heracles ( Hercules to the Romans ) during the first of his twelve labours . The Nemean Lion would take women as hostages to its lair in a cave , luring warriors from nearby towns to save the damsel in distress , to their misfortune . The Lion was impervious to any weaponry ; thus , the warriors ' clubs , swords , and spears were rendered useless against it . Realizing that he must defeat the Lion with his bare hands , Hercules slipped into the Lion 's cave and engaged it at close quarters . When the Lion pounced , Hercules caught it in midair , one hand grasping the Lion 's forelegs and the other its hind legs , and bent it backwards , breaking its back and freeing the trapped maidens . Zeus commemorated this labor by placing the Lion in the sky .
In Greek mythology , Leo was identified as the Nemean Lion which was killed by Heracles ( Hercules to the Romans ) during the first of his twelve labours . The Nemean Lion would take women as hostages to its lair in a cave , luring warriors from nearby towns to save the damsel in distress , to their misfortune . The Lion was impervious to any weaponry ; thus , the warriors ' clubs , swords , and spears were rendered useless against it . Realizing that he must defeat the Lion with his bare hands , Hercules slipped into the Lion 's cave and engaged it at close quarters . When the Lion pounced , Hercules caught it in midair , one hand grasping the Lion 's forelegs and the other its hind legs , and bent it backwards , breaking its back and freeing the trapped maidens . Zeus commemorated this labor by placing the Lion in the sky .