The Nemean Lion

868

The American English. The pre-intermediate level

The Nemean lion was a fierce creature in Greek mythology. It lived in the Nemean region and terrorized the people.

The lion had a thick, impenetrable skin, making it nearly impossible to kill. Hercules, a famous hero, was tasked with defeating the Nemean lion as one of his 12 labors.

Hercules went to Nemea to face the lion. He tried to shoot arrows at it, but they bounced off its tough skin.

Then he decided to use his strength instead. Hercules fought the lion hand to hand and eventually strangled it.

After killing the lion, he wore its skin as armor because it was so strong. This labor showed Hercules’ bravery and strength.

It also taught him that sometimes you must think differently to solve a problem. The story of the Nemean lion is one of Hercules’ most famous adventures.

ðə ˈnimiən ˈlaɪən wʌz ə fɪrs ˈkriʧər ɪn ɡrik məˈθɑləʤi. ɪt lɪvd ɪn ðə ˈnimiən ˈriʤən ænd ˈtɛrəˌraɪzd ðə ˈpipəl.

ðə ˈlaɪən hæd ə θɪk, ɪmˈpɛnətrəbəl skɪn, ˈmeɪkɪŋ ɪt ˈnɪrli ɪmˈpɑsəbəl tu kɪl. ˈhɜrkjəˌliz, ə ˈfeɪməs ˈhɪroʊ, wʌz tæskt wɪð dɪˈfitɪŋ ðə ˈnimiən ˈlaɪən æz wʌn ʌv hɪz 12 ˈleɪbərz.

ˈhɜrkjəˌliz wɛnt tu Nemea tu feɪs ðə ˈlaɪən. hi traɪd tu ʃut ˈæroʊz æt ɪt, bʌt ðeɪ baʊnst ɔf ɪts tʌf skɪn.

ðɛn hi ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd tu juz hɪz strɛŋkθ ɪnˈstɛd. ˈhɜrkjəˌliz fɔt ðə ˈlaɪən hænd tu hænd ænd ɪˈvɛnʧəwəli ˈstræŋɡəld ɪt.

ˈæftər ˈkɪlɪŋ ðə ˈlaɪən, hi wɔr ɪts skɪn æz ˈɑrmər bɪˈkɔz ɪt wʌz soʊ strɔŋ. ðɪs ˈleɪbər ʃoʊd ˈhɜrkjəˌliz ˈbreɪvəri ænd strɛŋkθ.

ɪt ˈɔlsoʊ tɔt hɪm ðæt səmˈtaɪmz ju mʌst θɪŋk ˈdɪfrəntli tu sɑlv ə ˈprɑbləm. ðə ˈstɔri ʌv ðə ˈnimiən ˈlaɪən ɪz wʌn ʌv ˈhɜrkjəˌliz moʊst ˈfeɪməs ædˈvɛnʧərz.