Hydra monster driver#

When they found the monster’s lair, he covered his mouth and nose with a cloth to protect himself from the creature’s venomous breath.

Hydra monster driver#

The hero was accompanied by his nephew Iolaus, who was often said to be his chariot driver and squire. According to some accounts, the Hydra had only been brought there by Hera specifically to challenge her stepson. Hercules was sent to the swamps outside of Lerna to kill the monster.

According to many versions of the legend, the Hydra’s central head was immortal. Early accounts claimed that when one head was cut off another grew back, while later writers claimed that two or even three heads would replace each that was removed. Not only were its bite and spit toxic, but even the vapors given off by the monster as it slept could kill most men. One of the most consistent elements of the legend was that the Hydra possessed a particularly deadly venom. Most artists depicted it as having six heads, while some writers elaborated the story to give it as many as fifty. The second of the famous twelve labors of Hercules was to kill a horrible monster called the Lernean Hydra. While defeating the Hydra was an act of great heroism and teamwork, its inspiration may have been more grounded. These fantastical elements, however, probably have their roots in the real world. Without help from his nephew, and inspiration from Athena, it would have been impossible for Hercules to overcome this regenerative power. The most famous aspect of the Hydra, though, was that its many heads regrew whenever the hero tried to cut them off. Its multitude of venom-spitting heads made it a dangerous foe. The Lernean Hydra was a nearly un-killable serpent faced by Hercules during his famous twelve labors.