The 2nd Labour of Hercules

The Lernaean Hydra

"His second labour was to get rid of the Lernaean Hydra.

The Hydra was a big snake, a very big snake and it had nine heads. One of its heads was immortal, you just couldn't kill it. King Eury made it quite clear that he did not want Hercules returning with any part of the serpent. No snake skin boots.

King Eury and Hera both knew that anyone who approached the monster's den in the swamp was killed by the monster's poisonous breath. Hercules did not have a chance.

But Hercules lured the monsters out of the swamp. With the help of his servant, Iolaus, he clubbed off the monster's nine heads. He burned them but one refused to die. It kept coming back to life. So Hercules crushed that head and buried it deep in the ground, and to this day, it was never seen again."


Image: Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra. Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna
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