By the age 18, stories of Herakles' strength and bravery had spread around Greece. There was a king Thespius who had 50 daughters (while some of the mythogrophers say they were all by his wife it is more likely that most were with various mistresses). All had reached the age of marriage but no one was a good suitor for any of them. This meant no descendants. Now in his land there was a Lion that was plaguing the area. Thespius heard that Herakles had set out and was coming to slay the beast. This was a solution to two problems. Thespius invited Heracles to stay with his family while he was hunting.