Hydra

serpent · Greece · Mediterranean

The Hydra is a fearsome multi-headed serpent from Greek mythology, most famously known as the Lernaean Hydra that infested the swamps of Lerna in the Argolid. This monstrous water serpent was said to have nine heads, one of which was immortal. Its venom was so potent that even its breath or the scent of its tracks could kill a man. The Hydra was the second of Heracles' Twelve Labors, and its legend has become one of the most enduring monster myths in Western literature. The creature's regenerative ability — growing two heads for every one cut off — has made it a lasting symbol of problems that

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