Hydra (mythology)

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Hydra

Hydra in Greek mythology, many-headed water serpent; offspring of Typhon and Echidna. When one of its heads was cut off, two new heads appeared. The second labor of Hercules was to kill the monster. He did so by burning the neck after cutting off each head.

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"Hydra." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Hydra

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable | 2006 | | Â© The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Hydra in Greek mythology, a many-headed snake whose heads grew again as they were cut off, killed by Hercules as the second of his Labours; in figurative usage, a thing which is hard to overcome or resist because of its pervasive or enduring quality or its many aspects.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Hydra." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Hydra." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Hydra.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "Hydra." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Oxford University Press. 2006. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-Hydra.html

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Hydra

In Greek mythology, the Hydra was a giant water snake with many heads that lived in a swamp near Lerna in the land of Argos. The number of heads is variously reported from as few as 5 to more than 100.

immortal able to live forever

The second of the 12 labors of Hercules* was to kill the Hydra. However, when one of the Hydra's heads was cut off, two more grew in its place. The monster also had one immortal head. To defeat the Hydra, Hercules called on his friend Iolaus for help. As soon as Hercules cut off one head, Iolaus would seal the wound with a hot iron or a torch so that nothing could grow to replace it. After removing the Hydra's immortal head, Hercules buried it under a large rock. He then collected the monster's poisonous blood. In later adventures, he dipped his arrows in the blood so that they would instantly kill whomever they struck.

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"Hydra." Myths and Legends of the World. Macmillan Reference, USA. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Hydra." Myths and Legends of the World. Macmillan Reference, USA. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900253.html

"Hydra." Myths and Legends of the World. Macmillan Reference, USA. 2001. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3490900253.html

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