Hercules, being a shepherd at the age of eighteen, was always up and down the Kitheron mountain sides. many times he came face to face with wild beasts, so he had to arm himself with a weapon of his own choice, even though he had received a sword from Hermes, a bow and arrows from Apollo, a golden breastplate from Hephaestus, and a robe from Athena. One day he cut a very big branch from a wild olive tree and made his mythical club. The club was thick, long and harder than steel and in Hercules hands became the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.

At that time, a lion had become the

terror of all people living by Kitheron's sides. Hercules decided to kill the lion. Trusting his powers and his mighty club he stood in the lion's path waiting for it. Soon the lion was face to face with Hercules. Roaring, it attacked the fearless young man.
The lion didn't even get close to Hercules and the club fall on its head. The lion was lying dead at Hercules' feet.

Erginus, the king of Minyans, imposed a tribute on Thebans after his father was killed by Perieres of  Thebes. Hercules met Erginus' heralds on their way to Thebes to demand this tribute.
He promptly cut off their ears, noses and hands. He sent these back to Erginus. Indignant at this outrage, Erginus marched against Thebes. Hercules, who had received weapons from Athena and taken command of the Theban army, killed Erginus, defeated the Minyans and obliged them to pay double tribute to Thebes. Hercules' father, Amphytryon, was killed in this war