Kithaironian lion

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The Kithaironian lion is a monster in Greek mythology that lives in the Kithairon mountain range and haunts the land of Amphitryon , Heracles ' stepfather . The Kithaironian lion is finally slain by the young Heracles shortly after leaving his parents' house and the beginning of his wanderings, who appropriates the fur and the head of the hunted beast: Heracles wears the head of the lion as a helmet, his fur as a cloak. In addition to the club and the cornucopia (horn of Acheloos ), the lion head helmet and lion skin are considered attributes of Heracles, especially in the fine arts.

The Kithaironian lion is to be distinguished from the Nemean lion , which Heracles killed in the course of his twelve tasks.

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