Creature Feature: Heroes and Hogs in Ancient Greece

Today we saw the Greek hero Herakles (Hercules) fight the Erymanthian boar. Herakles also fights many other ferocious animals, including the Nemean lion. The lion had an impenetrable hide, and was almost invulnerable. After Herakles defeats the lion, the hero wears the lion’s skin as armor. This myth was a popular story in for artists in antiquity, as well as throughout European history. Take a look at some of the objects from Harvard Art Museum’s collection that show this epic battle between the hero and the lion!