Background - Zeus wanted a mortal child who could defend both mortals and immortals from their enemies.  He impregnated Alcmene who raised Heracles alongside his step-brother Iphicles.  When Heracles was about eight months old he was sleeping and two serpents entered the room.  Iphicles cowered in fear while Heracles strangled them with his bare hands.  As legend goes, he grew to be seven feet tall and very strong by the time he was in his late teens.  Hera, the wife of Zeus, commanded Heracles to perform 10 labors for King Eurystheus so that he could become an immortal god.  

Labor 1: The Nemean Lion - In Nemea there was a huge beast that was ravaging the countryside, impervious to the melee weapons of the villagers.  Heracles found the lion, beat him over the head with his club, then strangled him to...