Heracles and the Lernaean Hydra
Heracles battles the many-headed Hydra of Lerna, whose severed heads grow back until the hero finds a way to prevent their regeneration.
The Story
Another early Labour sent Heracles to confront the Lernaean Hydra.
The Hydra was a monstrous serpent associated with the marshes of Lerna.
It possessed multiple heads and was extraordinarily difficult to kill.
When Heracles cut off one of its heads, new heads could grow in its place.
The hero therefore faced an enemy that became more dangerous when attacked in the obvious way.
Heracles was assisted by his companion Iolaus in an important tradition.
As Heracles removed the Hydra's heads, Iolaus burned or cauterised the necks.
This prevented new heads from growing.
One head was immortal and could not simply be destroyed.
Heracles removed it and buried it beneath a heavy rock.
After defeating the Hydra, Heracles used its poisonous blood or venom on his arrows.
Those poisoned weapons would become important in several later stories.
The Hydra Labour therefore had consequences far beyond the monster's death.
The poison Heracles carried afterward would eventually become connected with other deaths and with the hero's own fate.
Key Figures
Why It Matters
The Hydra is one of Heracles' best-known monstrous opponents. The Labour also introduces the poisoned arrows that become important in several later myths.
Traditions & Variations
The number of the Hydra's heads varies considerably between sources and artistic traditions. The role of Iolaus and the reason Eurystheus might reject the Labour also differ in later accounts.