Greek Monster with Nine Heads: The Hydra

Have you ever heard of the Hydra? It was a terrifying creature from Greek mythology that had nine heads and a deadly poison. It lived in a swamp near a city called Lerna, where it attacked anyone who came near it. But one day, a brave hero named Heracles, commonly known as Hercules, decided to face the Hydra and stop its rampage.

He soon discovered that the Hydra was not an ordinary monster. Every time he cut off one of its heads, two more would grow back! How did Heracles manage to defeat this impossible enemy? And what happened to him after he did? Read on to find out the legend of the Greek monster with nine heads!

The Secret Weapon of Heracles

Heracles realized that he could not defeat the Hydra by himself. He needed a clever plan and some help from his nephew Iolaus. Luckily, the goddess Athena was watching over him and gave him a brilliant idea.

He asked Iolaus to bring him a torch and some fire. Then, he resumed his attack on the Hydra, cutting off its heads one by one. But this time, he did not let them grow back. He told Iolaus to use the torch to cauterize the wounds, preventing the regeneration.

The Hydra was furious and tried to bite Heracles with its remaining heads. It also used its long tail to wrap around his legs and drag him into the swamp. Heracles fought back with his strength and courage, freeing himself from the Hydra’s grip.

He finally reached the immortal head of the Hydra, the one that could not be killed by any weapon. He used his sword to sever the head of the Hydra and concealed it beneath a large boulder. Afterwards, he coated his arrows with the lethal blood of the creature, increasing their potency.

With this, Heracles successfully finished his second task. He and Iolaus thanked Athena for her guidance and returned to King Eurystheus with the news of their victory.

The Wrath of Hera

Hera was not pleased with Heracles’ success. She had sent the Hydra to kill him, but he had managed to overcome it with the help of Iolaus and Athena. She decided to make his life even more difficult by sending a plague to the land of Argos, where he lived.

The plague caused many people and animals to die, and the crops to wither. Heracles was blamed for angering the gods, and he had to flee from his home. He wandered around Greece, looking for a way to appease Hera and end the suffering of his people.

He learned that there was a sacred oracle at Delphi, where he could ask the god Apollo for advice. He hoped that Apollo would tell him how to complete his twelve labors and earn forgiveness from Hera. He also hoped that he would never have to face another Greek monster with nine heads.

But Hera had other plans. She knew that Heracles was going to Delphi, and she wanted to stop him. She disguised herself as a young woman and offered to guide him to the oracle. She led him to a wrong path, where he encountered another fearsome creature: the Nemean Lion.

The Nemean Lion was a huge beast with a golden fur and a mane that was impervious to any weapon. It had killed many travelers and villagers, and it was hungry for more. It roared at Heracles, who realized that he had been tricked by Hera.

He grabbed his club and his bow, ready to fight the lion. But he soon discovered that his weapons were useless against the lion’s skin. His arrows bounced off, and his club broke in half. He was forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the lion, ultimately killing it by strangling it to death.

Afterwards, he removed its skin using its own claws and fashioned it into a cloak for himself. He hoped that this would protect him from any further attacks by Hera or her monsters. He also hoped that he would never meet another Greek monster with nine heads.

The Reward of Apollo

Heracles finally reached Delphi, where he hoped to find some answers from the god Apollo. He entered the temple, where a priestess named Pythia served as the oracle. She spoke the words of the god, but they were often vague and hard to understand.

Heracles asked Pythia how he could complete his twelve labors and appease Hera. He also asked if he would ever face another Greek monster with nine heads. Pythia replied in a riddle:

“Son of Zeus, you have done well to slay the Hydra and the Lion.

But many more trials await you before you can claim your prize.

You must cleanse the stables of a king, capture a stag with golden horns,

And steal the apples of the Hesperides, guarded by a dragon with a hundred heads.

Only then will you be free from Hera’s wrath and earn your place among the gods.”

Heracles was puzzled by the oracle’s words. He did not know who the king was, or where to find the stag or the apples. He also wondered how he could defeat a dragon with a hundred heads, when he had barely managed to kill a Greek monster with nine heads.

He decided to seek more guidance from Apollo himself. He prayed to the god of the sun, music, and prophecy, and offered him a gift. He took the immortal head of the Hydra, which he had kept as a trophy, and placed it on the altar of Apollo.

Apollo was pleased with Heracles’ offering. He appeared to him in a vision, and gave him more clear instructions. He told him the names and locations of the king, the stag, and the apples. He also told him how to deal with the dragon, and warned him of the dangers he would face along the way.

He also gave him a special gift: a golden bow and arrows, forged by Hephaestus, the god of fire and metalwork. These arrows were enchanted with the power of the sun, and could pierce any armor or skin. They were also dipped in the Hydra’s blood, making them even more lethal.

Apollo told Heracles that these weapons would help him in his future labors, and that he should use them wisely and sparingly. He also told him that he was proud of him, and that he would always watch over him.

Heracles thanked Apollo for his help and his gift. He felt more confident and hopeful, knowing that he had the god’s favor and guidance. He left the temple, ready to face his next challenge.

Bottom Line

This article tells the story of how Heracles, the son of Zeus, faced and defeated the Hydra, a Greek monster with nine heads. It also shows how he overcame other challenges and dangers, with the help of his friends and the gods, on his quest to complete his twelve labors and become a hero.