Hydra Hydra by Ron Leadbetter The Hydra which lived in the swamps near to the ancient city of Lerna in Argolis, was a terrifying monster which like the Nemean lion was the offspring of Echidna (half maiden - half serpent), and Typhon (had 100 heads), other versions think that the Hydra was the offspring of Styx and the Titan Pallas . The Hydra had the body of a serpent and many heads (the number of heads deviates from five up to one hundred there are many versions but generally nine is accepted as standard), of which one could never be harmed by any weapon, and if any of the other heads were severed another would grow in its place (in some versions two would grow). Also the stench from the Hydra's breath was enough to kill man or beast (in other versions it was a deadly venom). When it emerged from the swamp it would attack herds of cattle and local villagers, devouring them with its numerous heads. It totally terrorized the vicinity for many years. Heracles journeyed to Lake Lerna in a speedy chariot, and with him he took his nephew and charioteer Iolaus, in search of the dreaded Hydra.

When they finally reached the Hydras' hiding place, Heracles told Iolaus to stay with the horses while he drew the monster from its hole with flaming arrows. This brought out the hideous beast. Heracles courageously attacked the beast, flaying at each head with his sword, (in some versions a scythe) but he soon realized that as one head was severed another grew in its place. Heracles called for help from Iolaus, telling him to bring a flaming torch, and as Heracles cut off the heads one by one from the Hydra, Iolaus cauterized the open wounds with the torch preventing them from growing again. As Heracles fought the writhing monster he was almost stifled by its obnoxious breath, but eventually, with the help of Iolaus, Heracles removed all but one of the Hydras' heads. The one remaining could not be harmed by any weapon, so, picking up his hefty club Heracles crushed it with one mighty blow, he then tore off the head with his bare hands and quickly buried it deep in the ground, placing a huge boulder on the top.

After he had killed the Hydra, Heracles dipped the tips of his arrows into the Hydras' blood, which was extremely poisonous, making them deadly. Other versions say that while Heracles fought the Hydra the goddess Hera sent down a giant crab which attacked his feet). This legend comes from a marble relief dating from the 2nd century BCE found at ancient Lerna, showing Heracles attacking the Hydra, and near his feet is a huge crab. Also other legends say that a stray arrow set alight the forest, and it was the burning trunks which Heracles ripped up and used to cauterize the open wounds. Article details: Hercules' Second Labor: the Lernean Hydra The Lernean Hydra The second labor of Hercules was to kill the Lernean Hydra. From the murky waters of the swamps near a place called Lerna, the hydra would rise up and terrorize the countryside. A monstrous serpent with nine heads, the hydra attacked with poisonous venom. Nor was this beast easy prey, for one of the nine heads was immortal and therefore indestructible. Lerna Aerial view of site and bay, from E Photograph by Raymond V.

Schoder, S.J., courtesy of Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers Hercules set off to hunt the nine-headed menace, but he did not go alone. His trusty nephew, Iolaus, was by his side. Iolaus, who shared many adventures with Hercules, accompanied him on many of the twelve labors. Legend has it that Iolaus won a victory in chariot racing at the Olympics and he is often depicted as Hercules' charioteer. So, the pair drove to Lerna and by the springs of Amymone, they discovered the lair of the loathsome hydra. Munich 1416, Attic black figure amphora, ca. 510-500 B.C. Side A: scene at left, Hercules and Iolaos in chariot Photograph copyright Staatl. Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek, München First, Hercules lured the coily creature from the safety of its den by shooting flaming arrows at it. Once the hydra emerged, Hercules seized it. The monster was not so easily overcome, though, for it wound one of its coils around Hercules' foot and made it impossible for the hero to escape.

With his club, Hercules attacked the many heads of the hydra, but as soon as he smashed one head, two more would burst forth in its place! To make matters worse, the hydra had a friend of its own: a huge crab began biting the trapped foot of Hercules. Quickly disposing of this nuisance, most likely with a swift bash of his club, Hercules called on Iolaus to help him out of this tricky situation. Each time Hercules bashed one of the hydra's heads, Iolaus held a torch to the headless tendons of the neck. The flames prevented the growth of replacement heads, and finally, Hercules had the better of the beast. Once he had removed and destroyed the eight mortal heads, Hercules chopped off the ninth, immortal head. This he buried at the side of the road leading from Lerna to Elaeus, and for good measure, he covered it with a heavy rock. As for the rest of the hapless hydra, Hercules slit open the corpse and dipped his arrows in the venomous blood. Malibu 83.AE.346, Caeretan hydria, c. 525 B.C.

Main panel: Hercules slaying the Lernean hydra Collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, California Eurystheus was not impressed with Hercules' feat, however. He said that since Iolaus had helped his uncle, this labor should not count as one of the ten. This technicality didn't seem to matter much to anyone else: the ancient authors still give Hercules all of the credit. Even so, Pausanias did not think that this labor was as fantastic as the myths made it out to be: to him, the fearsome hydra was just, well, a big water snake. At the source of the Amymone grows a plane tree, beneath which, they say, the hydra (water-snake) grew. I am ready to believe that this beast was superior in size to other water-snakes, and that its poison had something in it so deadly that Heracles treated the points of his arrows with its gall. It had, however, in my opinion, one head, and not several. It was Peisander of Camirus who, in order that the beast might appear more frightful and his poetry might be more remarkable, represented the hydra with its many heads.

Pausanias, Description of Greece, 2.37.4 (lmc) Hydra | Monster Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Edit In Greek mythology , the Lernaean Hydra was an ancient nameless serpent -like chthonic water beast (as its name evinces) that possessed 9 heads — the poets mention more heads than the vase-painters could paint— and poisonous breath so virulent even her tracks were deadly.The Hydra of Lerna was killed by Hercules as one of his Twelve Labours . Its lair was the lake of Lerna in the Argolid , though archaeology has borne out the myth that the sacred site was older even than the Mycenaean city of Argos since Lerna was the site of the myth of the Danaids . Beneath the waters was an entrance to the Underworld , and the Hydra was its guardian until Hercules killed her. The Hydra was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna , both of whom were noisome offspring of the earth goddess Gaea .

The Hydra which lived in the swamps near to the ancient city of Lerna in Argolis, was a terrifying monster which like the Nemean Lion was the offspring of Echidna (half maiden - half serpent), and Typhon (had 100 heads), other versions think that the Hydra was the offspring of Styx and the Titan Pallas . The Hydra had the body of a serpent and many heads (the number of heads deviates from five up to one hundred there are many versions but generally nine is accepted as standard), of which one could never be harmed by any weapon, and if any of the other heads were severed another would grow in its place (in some versions two would grow). Also the stench from the Hydra's breath was enough to kill man or beast (in other versions it was a deadly venom). When it emerged from the swamp it would attack herds of cattle and local villagers, devouring them with its numerous heads. It totally terrorized the vicinity for many years. [1] Heracles journeyed to Lake Lerna in a speedy chariot, and with him he took his nephew and charioteer Iolaus, in search of the dreaded Hydra.

When they finally reached the Hydras' hiding place, Heracles told Iolaus to stay with the horses while he drew the monster from its hole with flaming arrows. This brought out the hideous beast. Heracles courageously attacked the beast, flaying at each head with his sword, (in some versions a scythe) but he soon realized that as one head was severed another grew in its place. Heracles called for help from Iolaus, telling him to bring a flaming torch, and as Heracles cut off the heads one by one from the Hydra, Iolaus cauterized the open wounds with the torch preventing them from growing again. As Heracles fought the writhing monster he was almost stifled by its obnoxious breath, but eventually, with the help of Iolaus, Heracles removed all but one of the Hydras' heads. The one remaining could not be harmed by any weapon, so, picking up his hefty club Heracles crushed it with one mighty blow, he then tore off the head with his bare hands and quickly buried it deep in the ground, placing a huge boulder on the top.

After he had killed the Hydra, Heracles dipped the tips of his arrows into the Hydras' blood, which was extremely poisonous, making them deadly. T Hydra ether has 9,8or7 heads Popular Culture In the Disney animated film, Hercules, the Hydra regenerates three heads for every head it loses. Video Games Edit In the game Age of Mythology the Hydra is a mythical creature who is of the Greek Tradition. You can only summon it if you are controling the Greeks. If you are not controlling the greeks you cannot summon them. They grow a head every time they destroy a certain amount of the same unit. Their stats also improve when they grow a head.and in the hardcore porn game In the Scribblenauts games it has three heads. In the game, God of War, Kratos is ordered to kill the hydra by Athena. He does so by impaling the Hydra's main head on the ship's mast.

Trivia LERNAEAN HYDRA - Nine-Headed Serpent of Greek Mythology Heracles, Iolaus and the Hydra, Athenian red-figure stamnos C5th B.C., Regional Archeological Museum Antonio Salinas HYDRA LERNAIA (Lernaean Hydra) was a gigantic, nine-headed water-serpent, which haunted the swamps of Lerna. Herakles (Heracles) was sent to destroy her as one of his twelve labours, but for each of her heads that he decapitated, two more sprang forth. So with the help of Iolaos (Iolaus), he applied burning brands to the severed stumps, cauterizing the wounds and preventing the regeneration. In the battle he also crushed a giant crab beneath his heel which had come to assist the Hydra. The Hydra and the Crab were afterwards placed amongst the stars by Hera as the Constellations Hydra and Cancer.

FAMILY OF THE HYDRA [1.1] TYPHOEUS & EKHIDNA (Hesiod Theogony 313, Hyginus Pref & Fab 30 & 151) [1.2] EKHIDNA (Ovid Metamorphoses 9.69) ENCYCLOPEDIA HYDRA. This monster, like the lion, was the offspring of Typhon and Echidna, and was brought up by Hera. It ravaged the country of Lernae near Argos, and dwelt in a swamp near the well of Amymone: it was formidable by its nine heads, the middle of which was immortal. Heracles, with burning arrows, hunted up the monster, and with his club or a sickle he cut off its heads; but in the place of the head he cut off, two new ones grew forth each time, and a gigantic crab came to the assistance of the hydra, and wounded Heracles. However, with the assistance of his faithful servant Iolaus, he burned away the heads of the hydra, and buried the ninth or immortal one under a huge rock.

Having thus conquered the monster, he poisoned his arrows with its bile, whence the wounds inflicted by them became incurable. Eurystheus declared the victory unlawful, as Heracles had won it with the aid of Iolaus. (Hes. Theog. 313, &c.; Apollod. ii. 5. § 2; Diod. iv. 11; Eurip. Herc. Fur. 419, 1188, Ion, 192; Ov. Met. ix. 70; Virg. Aen. viii. 300; Paus. ii. 36. § 6, 37. § 4, v. 5. § 5; Hygin. Fab. 30.) Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology. CLASSICAL LITERATURE QUOTES HYDRA THE SECOND LABOUR OF HERACLES Hesiod, Theogony 313 ff (trans.

Evelyn-White) (Greek epic C8th or 7th B.C.) : "And third again she [Ekhidna (Echidna)] bore the grisly-minded Lernaian (Lernaean) Hydra, whom the goddess white-armed Hera nourished because of her quenchless grudge against the strong Herakles (Heracles). Yet he, Herakles, son of Zeus, of the line of Amphitryon, by design of Athene the spoiler and with help form warlike Iolaos, killed this beast with the pitiless bronze sword." Alcaeus, Fragment 443 (from Schoiast on Hesiod's Theogony) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C6th B.C.) : "The Hydra is called nine-headed by Alcaeus, fifty-headed by Simonides." Simonides, Fragment 569 (from Servius on Virgil's Aeneid) (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric II) (Greek lyric C6th to 5th B.C.) : "One hundred snakes as in Simonides, as we said above [i.e.

Simonides' fifty-headed Hydra]; others say there were nine." Aeschylus, Fragment 55 Leon (from Stephen of Byzantium, Lexicon 699. 13) (trans. Weir Smyth) (Greek tragedy C5th B.C.) : "The bane of wayfarers, the drakon (serpent) that haunts the place." [N.B. Perhaps a reference to the Hydra of Lerna.] Plato, Euthydemus 297c (trans. Lamb) (Greek philosopher C4th B.C.) : "[Plato uses the myth of the Hydra as a metaphor for argument :] Herakles (Heracles), who was no match for the Hydra . . . who was so clever that she sent forth many heads . . . in place of each one that was cut off; . . . [and a] crab . . . from the sea--freshly, I fancy, arrived on shore; and, when the hero was so bothered with its leftward barks and bites, he summoned his nephew Iolaus to the rescue, and he brought him effective relief." Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.

77 - 80 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "For his second labour Herakles was instructed to slay the Lernaian (Lernaean) Hydra. The beast was nurtured in the marshes of Lerna, from where she would go out onto the flatland to raid flocks and ruin the land. The Hydra was of enormous size, with eight mortal heads, and a ninth one in the middle that was immortal. With Iolaos (Iolaus) driving, Herakles rode a chariot to Lerna, and there, stopping the horses, he found the Hydra on a ridge beside the springs of Amymone where she nested. By throwing flaming spears at her he forced her to emerge, and as she did he was able to catch hold. But she hung on to him by wrapping herself round one of his feet, and he was unable to help matters by striking her with his club, for as soon as one head was pounded off two others would grow in its place. Then a giant crab came along to help the Hydra, and bit Herakles on the foot.

For this he killed the crab, and called on his own behalf to Iolaos for help. Iolaos made some torches by setting fire to a portion of the adjoining woods, and, by using these to burn the buddings of the heads, he kept them from growing. When he had overcome this problem, Herakles lopped off the immortal head, which he buried and covered with a heavy boulder at the side of the road that runs through Lerna to Elaios (Elaeus). He cut up the Hydra's body and dipped his arrows in its venom." Heracles, Iolaus and the Hydra, Paestan black-figure hydra C6th B.C., The J. Paul Getty Museum Strabo, Geography 8. 6. 2 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "The river Lerna, as it is called, bearing the same name as the marsh in which is laid the scene of the myth of the Hydra." Strabo, Geography 8. 6.

6 : "Lake Lerna, the scene of the story of the Hydra, lies in Argeia and the Mykenean (Mycenean) territory." Pausanias, Description of Greece 2. 37. 4 (trans. Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : ”At the source of the Amymone [near Lerna, Argolis] grows a plane tree, beneath which, they say, the Hydra (Water-snake) grew. I am ready to believe that this beast was superior in size to other water-snakes, and that its poison had something in it so deadly that Herakles treated the points of his arrows with its gall. It had, however, in my opinion, one head and not several. It was Peisander of Kamiros (Camirus) who, in order that the beat might appear more frightful and his poetry might be more remarkable, represented the Hydra with its many heads." Pausanias, Description of Greece 3. 18.

10 - 16 : "[Amongst the images depicted on the throne of Apollon at Amyklai (Amyclae) near Sparta :] On the left stand Ekhidna (Echidna) and Typhos [Typhoeus], on the right Tritones . . . Next to these have been wrought two of the exploits of Herakles--his slaying of the Hydra, and his bringing up the Hound of Hell (kuna ton Haidou) [Kerberos (Cerberus)]." Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 17. 11 : "[Amongst the scenes depicted on the chest of Kypselos (Cypselus) dedicated at Olympia :] Heracles, with Athena standing beside him, is shooting at the Hydra, the beast in the river Amymone." Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 26. 7 : "[Amongst the offerings dedicated at Olympia :] By the smaller offerings of Mikythos (Micythus) . . .

are some of the exploits of Herakles, including what he did to the Nemeian Lion (Leonta Nemea), the Hydra, the Hound of Hell [Kerberos (Cerberus)], and the boar by the river Erymanthos." Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 11. 5 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) : "The second Labour which he [Herakles] undertook was the slaying of the Lernaian (Lernaean) Hydra, springing from whose single body were fashioned a hundred necks, each bearing the head of a serpent. And when one head was cut off, the place where it was severed put forth two others; for this reason it was considered to be invincible, and with good reason, since the part of it which was subdued sent forth a two-fold assistance in its place. Against a thing so difficult to manage as this Herakles devised an ingenious scheme and commanded Iolaos (Iolaus) to sear with a burning brand the part which had been severed, in order to check the flow of the blood.

So when he had subdued the animal by this means he dipped the heads of his arrows in the venom, in order that when the missile should be shot the wound which the point made might be incurable." Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 6. 212 ff (trans. Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : "[Amongst the scenes depicted on the shield of Eurypylos (Eurypylus), son of Herakles :] Thereby was wrought the Hydra many-necked flickering its dread tongues. Of its fearful heads some severed lay on earth, but many more were budding from its necks, while Herakles and Iolaos (Iolaus), dauntless-hearted twain, toiled hard; the one with lightning sickle-sweeps lopped the fierce heads, his fellow seared each neck With glowing iron; the monster so was slain." Aelian, On Animals 9. 23 (trans.

Scholfield) (Greek natural history C2nd A.D.) : "Hekataios (Hecataeus) the chronicler [Greek C4th B.C.], may sing, of the Hydra of Lerna, one of the Labours of Herakles." Ptolemy Hephaestion, New History Book 2 (summary from Photius, Myriobiblon 190) (trans. Pearse) (Greek mythographer C1st to C2nd A.D.) : "Aristonikos (Aristonicus) of Tarenton (Tarentum) says that the middle head of the Hydra was of gold." Pseudo-Hyginus, Preface (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "From Typhon and Echidna [were born] : . . . Hydra serpent which had nine heads which Hercules killed, and the Hesperian Dragon (Draco Hesperidum)." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 30 : "He [Herakles] killed at the spring of Lerna the nine headed Lernaean Hydra, offspring of Typhon.

This monster was so poisonous that she killed men with her breath, and if anyone passed by when she was sleeping, he breathed her tracks and died in greatest torment. Under Minerva's [Athene's] instructions he killed her, disembowelled her, and dipped his arrows in her gall; and so whatever later he hit with his arrows did not escape death, and later he himself perished in Phrygia from the same cause." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 151 : "From Typhon the giant and Echidna were born . . . the Hydra which Hercules killed by the spring of Lerna." Pseudo-Hyginus, Astronomica 2. 23 : "The Crab is said to have been put among the stars by the favour of Juno [Hera], because, when Hercules had stood firm against the Lernaean Hydra, it had snapped at his foot from the swamp.

Hercules, enraged at this, had killed it, and Juno [Hera] put it among the constellations." Heracles, Athena, Iolaus and the Hydra, Athenian black-figure lekythos C5th B.C., Musée du Louvre Ovid, Metamorphoses 9. 69 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "[Herakles addresses the shape-shifting river-god Akhelous (Achelous) :] ‘Mastering Dracones (Dragons) is child's play, Achelous! Yes, if you were champion serpent, how could you compare with Echidna Lernaea [the Hydra], you a single snake? It throve on wounds: of all its hundred heads I cut off one but from its neck two more sprang to succeed it, stronger than before! Yes, though it branched with serpents sprung from death, and multiplied on doom, I mastered it, and, mastered, I dispatched it.’" Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.

192 ff : "The Hydra's gain from loss, with doubled strength, was all in vain [i.e. against the might of Herakles]." Ovid, Heroides 9. 87 ff (trans. Showerman) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "[Herakles] told of the deeds . . . The fertile serpent that sprang forth again from the fruitful wound, grown rich from her own hurt." Virgil, Aeneid 6. 803 ff (trans. Day-Lewis) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) : "[Herakles] subdued Lerana with the terror of his bow." Seneca, Hercules Furens 220 ff (trans.

Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st A.D.) : "[The infant Herakles killed two serpents] crushing their swollen throats with his baby hands, he practised for the Hydra." Seneca, Hercules Furens 241 ff : "[The labours of Herakles :] Lerna's fell monster, pest manifold, did he not quell at last by fire and teach to die?" Seneca, Hercules Furens 526 ff : "Let Alcmena's son [Herakles] in endless wars employ on monsters the hand that bore the heavens; let him cut off the Hydra's teeming necks.” Seneca, Medea 700 ff : "[The witch Medea casts a spell to summon poisonous snakes invoking the names of the greatest of the Drakones (Dragons) :] ‘In answer to my incantations let Python come . . . Let Hydra return and every serpent cut off by the hand of Hercules, restoring itself by its own destruction. Thou, too, ever-watchful dragon [of the Golden Fleece].’" Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 7. 623 ff (trans.

Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : "The Tirynthian [Herakles] wearied in fight against the Hydra's dreadful hosts turned to the fires of Pallas [Athena who suggested to the hero this means of destroying the creature]." Statius, Thebaid 2. 375 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : "The marsh of Lerna and the burnt Hydra's heat makes warm the depths of those unrighteous waters." Statius, Thebaid 4. 168 ff : "[Depicted on the shield of the Argive warrior Kapaneus (Capaneus) :] There lies the Hydra with triple-branching crown, lately slain and foul in death: part, embossed in silver, glitters fierce with moving snakes, part by a cunning device is sunken, and grows dark in death agony against the tawny gold; around, in dark-blue steel runs the torpid stream of Lerna." Nonnus, Dionysiaca 25. 196 ff (trans.

Rouse) (Greek epic C5th A.D.) : "[Herakles] took all that trouble to liberate some little snaky brook like Lerna, by cutting down the selfgrowing firstfruits of the lurking serpent [the Hydra], as that plentiful crop of snakeheads grew spiking up. If only he had done the killing alone! Instead of calling in his distress for Iolaos (Iolaus), to destroy the heads as they grew afresh, by lifting a burning torch; until the two together managed to get the better of one female serpent . . . cutting down a bush of heads which ever grew again on so many necks." Suidas s.v. Hydran temnein (trans. Suda On Line) (Byzantine Greek Lexicon C10th A.D.) : "Hydran temnein (you are cutting off a hydra) : Said of things that are hopeless; for the story goes that when Herakles was fighting a Hydra in Lerna which had a hundred heads, and as the heads were cut off more grew, he ordered Iolaos (Iolaus) to burn the cut ones." Suidas s.v.

Hydra : Heracles and the Lernaean Hydra, Greco-Roman mosaic C3rd A.D., National Archaeological Museum of Spain Alcman, Fragment 815 Geryoneis (trans. Campbell, Vol. Greek Lyric III) (Greek lyric C7th B.C.) : "[Herakles slays Geryon with an arrow coated with Hydra-venom :] (Bringing) the end that is hateful (death), having (doom) on its head, befouled with blood and with . . ((lacuna)) gall, the anguish of the dapple-necked Hydra, destroyer of men [i.e. his arrow was poisoned with the blood and gall of the Hydra]; and Geryon drooped his neck to one side" Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2. 80 (trans. Aldrich) (Greek mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "He [Herakles] cut up the Hydra's body and dipped his arrows in its venom." Pseudo-Apollodorus, Bibliotheca 2.

157 : "In fear lest Herakles desire Iole more than herself [Deianeira], and in her belief that the blood of Nessos [i.e. the kentauros (centaur) slain by Herakles with an arrow coated in Hydra-venom] was truly a love-potion, she doused the robe with it. Herakles put it on and started the sacrifice, but soon the robe grew warm as the Hydra's venom began to cook his flesh. He caught up Likhas (Lichas) by the foot and hurled him into the Euboian sea, then tore off the robe, which stuck to his body so that he ripped off his flesh along with hit." Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica 4. 1390 ff (trans. Rieu) (Greek epic C3rd B.C.) : "The snake [the Drakon (Dragon) of the Hesperides], struck down by Herakles, lay by the trunk of the apple-tree. Only the tip of his tail was still twitching; from the head down, his dark spine showed not a sign of life.

His blood had been poisoned by arrows steeped in the gall of the Lernaian (Lernaean) Hydra, and flies perished in the festering wounds." Strabo, Geography 8. 3. 19 (trans. Jones) (Greek geographer C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "It [the Anigros River of Elis] emits an offensive odor for a distance of twenty stadia, and makes the fish unfit to eat. In the mythical accounts, however, this is attributed by some writers to the fact that certain of the Kentauroi (Centaurs) here washed off the poison they got from the Hydra [after their battle with Herakles] . . . The bathing-water from here cures leprosy, elephantiasis, and scabies." Pausanias, Description of Greece 5. 5. 9 (trans.

Jones) (Greek travelogue C2nd A.D.) : "Some Greeks say that Khiron (Chiron), other that Pylenor another Kentauros (Centaur), when shot by Herakles fled wounded to this river [Anigros in Elis] and washed his hurt in it, and that it was the Hydra's poison which gave the Anigros its nasty smell." Diodorus Siculus, Library of History 4. 38. 1 (trans. Oldfather) (Greek historian C1st B.C.) : "Herakles put on the shirt which had been anointed [by his wife Deianeira with Nessos' Hydra-venom tainted blood], and as the strength of the toxic drug began slowly to work he met with the most terrible calamity. For the arrow's barb had carried the poison of the adder [Hydra], and when the shirt for this reason, as it became heated, attacked the flesh of the body." Quintus Smyrnaeus, Fall of Troy 9. 392 ff (trans.

Way) (Greek epic C4th A.D.) : "Beside his [Philoktetes (Philoctetes)] stony bed lay a long quiver full of arrows, some for hunting, some to smite his foes withal; with deadly venom of that fell water-snake [Hydra] were these besmeared. Before it, nigh to his hand, lay the great bow, with curving tips of horn, wrought by the mighty hands of Herakles." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 30 (trans. Grant) (Roman mythographer C2nd A.D.) : "Under Minerva's [Athene's] instructions he [Herakles] killed her [Hydra], disembowelled her, and dipped his arrows in her gall; and so whatever later he hit with his arrows did not escape death, and later he himself perished in Phrygia from the same cause." Pseudo-Hyginus, Fabulae 34 : "[Herakles] pierced Nessus with his arrows.

As he died, Nessus, knowing how poisonous the arrows were, since they had been dipped in the gall of the Lernaean Hydra, drew out some of his blood and gave it to Dejanira (Deianeira), telling her it was a love-charm. If she wanted her husband not to desert her, she should have his garments smneared with this blood. Dejanira, believing him, kept it carefully preserved." Ovid, Metamorphoses 9. 129 & 158 ff (trans. Melville) (Roman epic C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "An arrow flew [from the bow of Herakles] and pierced the fleeing centaur's [Nessos'] back: out from his breast the barbed point stuck. He wrenched the shaft away, and blood from both wounds spurted, blood that bore Lernaei's [the Lernaean Hydra's] poison. Nessus caught it up. ‘I'll not die unavenged’, he thought and gave his shirt soaked in warm gore to Deianira, a talisman, he said, to kindle love.' . . .

[Herakles' wife Deianeira hears rumours that her husband is planning to marry Iole :] She chose to send the shirt imbued with Nessus' blood to fortify her husband's failing love. Not knowing what she gave, she entrusted her sorrow to Lichas (ignorant no less) and charged him with soft words to take it to her lord. And Hercules receiving the gift and on his shoulders wore, in ignorance, Echidna Lernaea's [the Hydra's] poisoned gore. The flame was lit; he offered words of prayer and incense, pouring on the marble altar wine from the bowl. That deadly force grew warm. Freed by the flame, it seeped and stole along, spreading through all the limbs of Hercules. While he still could, that hero's heart of his stifled his groans, but when the agony triumphed beyond endurance, he threw down the altar, and his cries of anguish filled the glades of Oeta.

Desperately he tried to tear the fatal shirt away; each tear tore his skin too, and, loathsome to relate, either it stuck, defeating his attempts to free it from his flesh, or else laid bare his lacerated muscles and huge bones. Why, as the poison burned, his very blood bubbled and hissed as when a white-hot blade is quenched in icy water. Never an end! The flames licked inwards, greedy for his guts; dark perspiration streamed from every pore; his scorching sinews crackled; the blind rot melted his marrow . . . In wounded agony he roamed the heights of Oeta [and died to escape the pain in the flames of a funeral pyre]." Ovid, Heroides 9. 115 ff (trans. Showerman) (Roman poetry C1st B.C. to C1st A.D.) : "The darts [of Herakles] blackened with the venom of Lerna." Seneca, Hercules Furens 44 (trans.

Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st A.D.) : "Why, he [Herakles] bears as weapons what he once fought and overcame; he goes armed by lion [i.e. the skin of the Nemeian lion] and by Hydra [i.e. his arrows dipped in its venom]." Seneca, Hercules Furens 1194 ff : "[Herakles' mourns his young sons who he slew in a fit of madness with venom-tainted arrows :] ‘What of that shaft, still dripping with the blood of boys? It has been dipped in Hydra's gore--ah, now my own weapons do I recognize. No need to ask the hand that used them! Who could have bent the bow or what hand drawn the string which scarce yields to me?’" HYDRA GUARDIAN OF THE UNDERWORLD Virgil, Aeneid 6. 287 ff (trans.

Fairclough) (Roman epic C1st B.C.) : "Many monstrous forms besides of various beasts are stalled at the doors [of Haides], Centauri (Centaurs) and double-shaped Scyllae, and the hundredfold Briareus, and the beast of Lerna [the Hydra], hissing horribly, and the Chimaera armed with flame, Gorgones and Harpyiae (Harpies), and the shape of the three-bodied shade [Geryon]." Seneca, Hercules Furens 776 ff (trans. Miller) (Roman tragedy C1st A.D.) : "The craft [of Kharon (Charon)], ample for whole nations, sinks low beneath one man [Herakles, journeying to Haides] . . . Then the [shades of the] monsters he had conquered are in a panic, the fierce Centaurs and the Lapithae whom too much wine had inflamed to war; and, seeking the farthest fens of the Stygian swamp, Lerna's labour [i.e. the Hydra] plunges deep his fertile heads." Valerius Flaccus, Argonautica 3. 224 (trans.

Mozley) (Roman epic C1st A.D.) : "[The Titan] Coeus in the lowest pit [of Tartaros] burst the adamantine bonds and trailing Jove's [Zeus'[ fettering chains . . . conceives a hope of scaling heaven, yet though he repass the rivers and the gloom the hound of the Furiai [Kerberos (Cerberus)] and the sprawling Hydra's crest [a second guardian of the underworld] repel him." Statius, Silvae 2. 1. 228 ff (trans. Mozley) (Roman poetry C1st A.D.) : "Neither the ferryman [Kharon (Charon)] nor the comrade [the Hydra] of the cruel beast [Kerberos (Cerberus)] bars the way [to the Underworld] to innocent souls." Statius, Silvae 5. 3. 260 ff : "But do ye, O monarchs of the dead and thou, Ennean Juno [Persephone], if ye approve my prayer [provide a peaceful journey for the soul of my dead father] . . .

let the warder of the gate [Kerberos (Cerberus)] make no fierce barking, let distant vales conceal the Centauri (Centaurs) and Hydra's multitude and Scylla's monstrous horde [i.e. fearsome monsters whose shades were established as guardians of the underworld]." POETIC EPITHETS The Hydra of Greece The Hydra of Greece [h1]{PAGETITLE}[/h1] The Hydra: Greek Monster and Mythical Creature Hydra is an ancient Greek mythical beast that was mentioned in the tale of the twelve labors of Hercules (also called Heracles). The hydra has many heads (possibly 7, 8 or 9), the number of head varies from different versions of the legend, however, more accounts agree on nine. It was said that the middle one was immortal and it has very poisonous venom and breath. If the heads are cut off, the heads would grow back. One head cut-off would result to two heads growing back in its place. The Hydra was believed to have lived in the Lernean marsh which is located near Argolis, the region around Argos, Greece.

Others say that the Hydra lived in Cave in the Swamp of Lerna The serpent-woman Echidna and the hundred headed Typhon are the Hydra’s parents. His siblings include the Nemean lion, Cerberus, Chimera and Ladon. The Hydra guards the entrance to the Underworld and from the murky swamps of the Lake of Lerna the monstrous serpent would rise and terrorize the city. The Hydra was finally killed by Hercules during his second labor. The Hydra was said to have the body of a dragon/snake with many heads (possibly 7, 8 or 9), two arms & legs with knife-like claws, sharp spines/spikes & a long serpent tail. Hydra is an ancient Greek mythical beast that was mentioned in the tale of the twelve labors of Hercules (also called Heracles). The hydra has many heads (possibly 7, 8 or 9), the number of head varies from different versions of the legend, however, more accounts agree on nine. It was said that the middle one was immortal and it has very poisonous venom and breath. If the heads are cut off, the heads would grow back. One head cut-off would result to two heads growing back in its place.

The Hydra was believed to have lived in the Lernean marsh which is located near Argolis, the region around Argos, Greece. Others say that the Hydra lived in Cave in the Swamp of Lerna The serpent-woman Echidna and the hundred headed Typhon are the Hydra’s parents. His siblings include the Nemean lion, Cerberus, Chimera and Ladon. The Hydra guards the entrance to the Underworld and from the murky swamps of the Lake of Lerna the monstrous serpent would rise and terrorize the city. The Hydra was finally killed by Hercules during his second labor. The Hydra was said to have the body of a dragon/snake with many heads (possibly 7, 8 or 9), two arms & legs with knife-like claws, sharp spines/spikes & a long serpent tail. The Hydra: Greek Monster and Mythical Creature The Myth about Killing the Hydra: The Second Labor of Hercules The Hydra was a Mythical Character from "The Seven Labors of Hercules (Heracles): Accompanied with his trusty nephew, Iolaus, Hercules set off to hunt the nine-headed monster. They went to the springs of Amymone and discovered the lair of the menacing beast.

Heracles & the Hydra Hercules lured the creature out of its den by shooting it with flaming arrows. When the beastly creature emerged, the Greek mythical hero seized it but the monster wound one of its coils to Hercules’ foot. With one of his foot stuck, Hercules tried to break free by smashing the monster’s head, but as soon as he cut one, two more heads would appear on its place. And a huge crab began biting Hercules’ trapped foot to add nuisance. After smashing the crab with his club, Hercules called on to his nephew, Iolaus to help him out in fighting the looming monster. Hercules persisted on slashing the monster’s head while Iolaus scorched each headless neck with a torch to prevent heads from growing back. Finally, the Hydra was slain as Heracles's second task was done. After the Hydra was defeated, Heracles soaked the tip of his arrows in its venomous blood. The Hydra was a Mythical Character from "The Seven Labors of Hercules (Heracles): Accompanied with his trusty nephew, Iolaus, Hercules set off to hunt the nine-headed monster. They went to the springs of Amymone and discovered the lair of the menacing beast.

Heracles & the Hydra Hercules lured the creature out of its den by shooting it with flaming arrows. When the beastly creature emerged, the Greek mythical hero seized it but the monster wound one of its coils to Hercules’ foot. With one of his foot stuck, Hercules tried to break free by smashing the monster’s head, but as soon as he cut one, two more heads would appear on its place. And a huge crab began biting Hercules’ trapped foot to add nuisance. After smashing the crab with his club, Hercules called on to his nephew, Iolaus to help him out in fighting the looming monster. Hercules persisted on slashing the monster’s head while Iolaus scorched each headless neck with a torch to prevent heads from growing back. Finally, the Hydra was slain as Heracles's second task was done. After the Hydra was defeated, Heracles soaked the tip of his arrows in its venomous blood. The Myth about Killing the Hydra: The Second Labor of Hercules Other Version Some accounts say that Hydra’s legend came about from exaggerated stories about a huge squid or an octopus.

While Hydra has the ability to grow back its cut off heads, the octopus also has the ability to grow back its arms when cut off, thus the similarity. There are many myths. I hope this has been unbelievably useful to everyone. (As a small side note, This creature is alsoreferred to as the "Lernaean Hydra" or "Λερναία Ὕδρα") SOURCE: Some accounts say that Hydra’s legend came about from exaggerated stories about a huge squid or an octopus. While Hydra has the ability to grow back its cut off heads, the octopus also has the ability to grow back its arms when cut off, thus the similarity. There are many myths. I hope this has been unbelievably useful to everyone. (As a small side note, This creature is alsoreferred to as the "Lernaean Hydra" or "Λερναία Ὕδρα") SOURCE: Other Version Hydra If two heads are better than one then what about six hmmmmmmï¿½..

(courtesy of in2greece) Hydra The Hydra which lived in the swamps near to the ancient city of Lerna in Argolis, was a terrifying monster which like the Nemean lion was the offspring of Echidna and Typhon. The Hydra had the body of a serpent and many heads of which one could never be harmed by any weapon, and if any of the other heads were severed another would grow in its place. The hydra also spat deadly poison that could kill any man if it got on their skin. When it arose from the swamp it ate cattle and villagers and terrorized the land for years. One of Herculesï¿½ labours was to kill the Hydra, and he managed it by having his companion Iolaus burn each stump after he had cut the head off. When all the heads were off, Heracles buried the Hydra under a pile of stones, and dipped his arrows into the monsters blood, making them poisonous. ï¿½ AKHSMythology - Hydra AKHSMythology Export (PDF) Hydra The hydra which lived in swamps near to the ancient city of Lerna in Argolis, was a hideous monster with nine heads.

The hydra was the offspring of Typhons and Echidna. The middle of hydra's head was immortal, and if any of other heads were severed another would grow in its place. Hydra's breath was toxic enough to kill men or beast. Why Heracles killed the hydra? Hercules, who killed his own family, prayed to Apollo, the Sun God, because hercules was looking for salvation. The Apollo assigned him twelve tasks to complete for achieving salvation. One of the twelve tasks was killing the monster called Hydra. Hydra Second Labour Of Heracles By emerging from the swamps, the hydra would attack herds of cattle local villagers which terrorized the vicinity for many years. One day, Heracles jounreyed to Lake Lerna with Iolas(his nephew) in search of terrifying hydra. When Heracles confronted a hydra, he told Iolas to stay away from him with the horses. Heracles courageously fought against hydra, flaying at each head with his sword. Heracles,however, soon realized that the hydra's head would grow back in its place. Heracles asked Iolas for help, telling him to bring a flamming torch.

As Heracles cut off hydra's head, Iolas burned the open wounds with the torch preventing from growing back. Heracles removed all but one of the Hydra's heads. The one remaining could not be harmed by any weapons. Heracles picked up his hefty club and crushed it with one blow, then he tore off the head with his bare hands and quickly buried it deep in the ground, placing a huge boulder on the top. After he had killed the Hydra, Heracles dipped the tips of his arrows into the Hydras' blood, which was extremely poisonous, making them deadly. Constellation After Heracles destroyed completed one of his tweleve tasks, the Hydra and the crab were put into the sky. There is an alternative version that the crab is there to bother and bite his feet, hoping to cause his death. While the crab has the sign of caner of the sun, the constellation of hydra has its head nearby. Greek Mythology In Popular Culture Hydra can be found as a wooden roller coaster at Dorney park & Wildwater kingdom in Allentown, Penssylvania with a lernaean Hydra theme.The theme itself is the Hydra coming back to life and seeking revenge over Hercules.

The Ray HarryHausen film Jason and the Argonauts features both Hercules and a seven-headed hydra guarding the Golden fleece . The plot is where Jason lays a hand on the fleece, and the hydra is awakened. Strangely, it has more birdlike heads. It immediately proceeds to strangle an argonaut with its forked tail, and a brief battle ensues between it and Jason, until he thrusts his sword into its heart. In 1997, Disney released an animated movie named Hercules. In the film Hercules fights the Hydra, however this hydra starts with a single head, and as the fight progresses, the monster gains dozens of heads, until all that can be seen is dozens and dozens of heads, each trying to eat Hercules. He defeats the monster by causing a rock slide, crushing the Hydra. Works Cited Breeden, Dav. "Greek Mythology." Theoretical Chemistry Groningen. Web. 03 May 2011. [[<http:/theochem.chem.rug.nl/resources/Mythica.html>.|< >.]] Harris, Browyn. "In Greek Mythology, What Was the Hydra?" WiseGEEK: Clear Answers for Common Questions. Web.

03 May 2011[[. <http:/|. < >.]] "Greek Mythology in Popular Culture." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 03 May 2011. [[<http:/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology_in_popular_culture>.|< >.]] Labor 2 - myth class myth class Labor 2 Hydra The Hydra which lived in the swamps near to the ancient city of Lerna in Argolis, was a terrifying monster which like the Nemean lion was the offspring of Echidna (half maiden - half serpent), and Typhon (had 100 heads), other versions think that the Hydra was the offspring of Styx and the Titan Pallas. The Hydra had the body of a serpent and many heads (the number of heads deviates from five up to one hundred there are many versions but generally nine is accepted as standard), of which one could never be harmed by any weapon, and if any of the other heads were severed another would grow in its place (in some versions two would grow). Also the stench from the Hydra's breath was enough to kill man or beast (in other versions it was a deadly venom).

When it emerged from the swamp it would attack herds of cattle and local villagers, devouring them with its numerous heads. It totally terrorized the vicinity for many years. Heracles journeyed to Lake Lerna in a speedy chariot, and with him he took his nephew and charioteer Iolaus, in search of the dreaded Hydra. When they finally reached the Hydras' hiding place, Heracles told Iolaus to stay with the horses while he drew the monster from its hole with flaming arrows. This brought out the hideous beast. Heracles courageously attacked the beast, flaying at each head with his sword, (in some versions a scythe) but he soon realized that as one head was severed another grew in its place. Heracles called for help from Iolaus, telling him to bring a flaming torch, and as Heracles cut off the heads one by one from the Hydra, Iolaus cauterized the open wounds with the torch preventing them from growing again. As Heracles fought the writhing monster he was almost stifled by its obnoxious breath, but eventually, with the help of Iolaus, Heracles removed all but one of the Hydras' heads.

The one remaining could not be harmed by any weapon, so, picking up his hefty club Heracles crushed it with one mighty blow, he then tore off the head with his bare hands and quickly buried it deep in the ground, placing a huge boulder on the top. After he had killed the Hydra, Heracles dipped the tips of his arrows into the Hydras' blood, which was extremely poisonous, making them deadly. Assignment: .:Monsters of Mythology:. | A Fun Website About Mythological Monsters A Fun Website About Mythological Monsters Echidna's Children Echidna birthed most of the monsters of Greek Mythology with her partner, Typhon. Typhon is shown on this antique vase. He is the one on the right. Although here he is shown with 1 head, 2 arms, and 2 snake tails, he really has 100 of each. and the Hydra . The Nemean Lion The Nemean Lion was a huge ferocious lion that lived in the Nemean Plains. It could not be hurt by weapons. You could only kill it by hand.

Hercules, or Heracles, was a hero in both Greek and Roman mythology who was given the task of killing the Nemean Lion (more specifically, to bring back the skin of the Nemean lion). He, being a hero, did kill the lion eventually. But it was hard for him because he had to use his hands and no weapons. Cerberus Cerberus was a three-headed dog who guarded the entrance to the underworld. He would only let souls past. If any living being tried to pass Cerberus, he would kill it. He would also keep souls from leaving the underworld. As with most monsters and beings in mythology, Cerberus has been portrayed many different ways. He originally had over 100 heads, which was lowered to three much later. He has also been given the tail of a serpent. A few heroes and gods did get past Cerberus, including Orpheus, a hero. Orpheus needed to get into the underworld to bring back his dead wife, and so he had to get past Cerberus. He did this by lulling him to sleep with the music of his lyre.

Hercules, a major hero, also was able to draw Cerberus out of the underworld and brought him to the world above for a while. Although a monster, Cerberus still had the qualities of a dog. He was lulled to sleep by Orpheus with the music of a lyre, and has been pacified with honey cakes. Cerberus was the inspiration for Fluffy, the dog in Harry Potter who guards the Chamber of Secrets. Fluffy also has three heads and is lulled to sleep by Harry and his friends with music. Back to List Ladon Ladon is a hundred-headed dragon who guarded the Tree of Golden Apples in the Garden of Hesperides. One of Hercules' 12 labors was to get three apples from this tree. But when he got to the garden, he instead asked Atlas to do it for him. Atlas was a titan, a giant and evil god, whose punishment was to hold the world on his shoulders. He thought he could trick Hercules and never again have to hold up the world, so he agreed. He got the apples while Hercules took his place, but then refused to hold up the world again and was about to leave Hercules to do it forever.

Hercules, seeing through Atlas' plans from the beginning, pretended to like it. Then he asked Atlas if he could hold the world for awhile while he went to get some rope and bind his own neck to make it easier when he got back. But, as Atlas took the world on his shoulders, Hercules left. The Chimera The chimera is a monster depicted with 3 heads: that of a lion, a dragon, and a she-goat. The chimera also has wings and the tail of a dragon, and sometimes the tail has a serpent's head on the end. The Chimera ravaged Lycia, a country on the lower edge of Greece near Rhodes and Crete. It was eventually killed by Bellerophon, a hero from Crinth. Back to List Sphinx Sphinx appears in many cultures. The most well known is probably the Egyptian Sphinx, but here the subject is the Greek Sphinx. The shinx was said to be the demon of Death, Destruction, and Bad Luck. It has been portrayed in many different ways but is generally female with the head of a human, the body of a lion, the tail of a snake, and sometimes wings.

The Sphinx sat on a rock and asked travelers a riddle when they walked by: What walks on four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening? If they answered incorrectly, she would kill them by strangulation. The answer was a human (it crawls at birth, stands and walks in middle-age, and use a cane in old age). When Oedipus answered this correctly, the Sphinx threw herself from the rock and died. The Hydra The hydra was a huge creature with the body of a drogon-like creature, or sometimes a snake, and from 5 to 100 heads. Usually, though, it is depicted with 9 heads. The "lead" head could not be harmed by any weapon. If any of the other heads were cut off another, sometimes more than 1, would grow back in its place. The stench of its breath could kill any being. It lived in the swamps near the city Lerna of Argolis (it was sometimes called the Hydra of Lerna) and if any person or animal walked by it would eat it. To kill the Hydra of Lerna, Hercules drew it out of its swamp with flaming arrows.

Then he took a sword and lopped off each head one by one. When he realized that they would grow back every time, he got his freind Iolaus to burn the stump of each head after he cut it off, stopping them from growing back. He was about to sufficate from the breath, but he just barely got away fast enough after cutting off the last head and burying it underground because it could not be killed. Hydra (mythology) facts, information, pictures | Encyclopedia.com articles about Hydra (mythology) Myths and Legends of the World COPYRIGHT 2001 Macmillan Reference, USA Hydra In Greek mythology, the Hydra was a giant water snake with many heads that lived in a swamp near Lerna in the land of Argos. The number of heads is variously reported from as few as 5 to more than 100. immortal able to live forever The second of the 12 labors of Hercules* was to kill the Hydra. However, when one of the Hydra's heads was cut off, two more grew in its place. The monster also had one immortal head. To defeat the Hydra, Hercules called on his friend Iolaus for help.

As soon as Hercules cut off one head, Iolaus would seal the wound with a hot iron or a torch so that nothing could grow to replace it. After removing the Hydra's immortal head, Hercules buried it under a large rock. He then collected the monster's poisonous blood. In later adventures, he dipped his arrows in the blood so that they would instantly kill whomever they struck. See also Animals in Mythology; Greek Mythology; Hercules; Serpents and Snakes. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. Hy·dra / ˈhīdrə/ 1. Greek Mythol. a many-headed snake whose heads grew again as they were cut off, killed by Hercules. ∎ [as n.] (hydra) a thing that is hard to overcome or resist because of its pervasive or enduring quality or its many aspects. 2. Astron. the largest constellation (the Water Snake or Sea Monster), said to represent the beast slain by Hercules. Its few bright stars are close to the celestial equator.

Compare with Hydrus. ∎ [as genitive] (Hy·drae / -drē/ ) used with a preceding letter or numeral to designate a star in this constellation: the star Beta Hydrae. Cite this article

Question: Slain by Hercules, which monster lived in the swamps near the city of Lerna?
Answer: Hydra