The Mythology of the Hydra
The Hydra lived in a discreetly hidden cave at Amymone Spring situated at Lerna which was considered one of the entrances to the Underworld, and was located in southern Argolis in Greece. Hera the sister of Zeus raised the Hydra specifically with the intention of killing her own brother Hercales.
Mythical Greek Hydra 2
The fearsome Hydra
Hercales possessed incredible strength, cleverness and heart and was a formidable foe for anyone, but Hera was certain the Hydra would prove to be his downfall. Hercales with his passion for freedom and to make the world safe, heard of the Lernaean Hydra and how it was terrorising the towns folk of Lerna and decided it was necessary to rid the world of this menace.
Hercales would travel to Lerna with his nephew Iolaus to help him kill the Hydra. Drawing the Hydra out from the cave using flaming arrows, Hercales engaged the Hydra when it came into melee distance. With each of the head of the Hydra growing back double after Hercales sliced them off, it was Iolaus who helped Hercales to seal the necks of the Hydra using a torch to stop them from growing back. When Hercales finally overpowered the Hydra and sliced off its final head, he buried the head under a mighty rock to ensure the Hydra would forever be beaten. Thus the Hydra met it’s end at the hands of Hercales and Hera plan was foiled