Lernaean Hydra
The marsh creature whose severed heads regrow in pairs and whose venom outlives the labour.
Overview
The Lernaean Hydra turns a simple blow into a worsening problem: each severed head is replaced by two. Iolaus stops the regrowth with fire, Heracles buries the immortal head beneath a heavy stone, and the creature’s venom is applied to his arrows. The monster is defeated, but its poison travels into later stories while the assistance causes the labour to be rejected.
Key facts
Two heads for one
Each severed mortal head produces two more, making repeated cutting self-defeating.
Venom remains
Heracles dips his arrows in the Hydra’s gall, carrying the labour’s consequence into later episodes.
Relationships
- Labours of Heraclespart of the Labours
This figure, target or episode belongs to the commanded sequence of the Labours.
- Heraclesdefeats and takes the venom
Heracles defeats the Hydra, buries its immortal head and takes its venom.
Story appearances
- The Labours of HeraclesLernaean Hydra in the Labours
Lernaean Hydra enters this story through Heracles' labours; when other stories return to the figure, they follow that later setting.
Ancient sources
MythWeave distinguishes ancient-source evidence from later adaptations and modern interpretation.