According to legends, Queen Omphale of Lydia was given Heracles as a slave for one year as penance for his "accidental" killing of Iphitus of Oechalia in a fit of passion. The slayer of the Nemean Lion was strong enough to do all of a woman's labors around the house and even hold a basket of wool all day for Omphale's maidens in waiting to spin yarn. After the year of servitude, Heracles proved so valuable that Omphale then took him as her husband.