Iolaus Serpent
The multi-headed water serpent of Lerna whose heads regenerated when cut — the Hydra — whose blood Heracles used to poison his arrows, causing indirect deaths for generations afterward.
The Myth of Iolaus Serpent
The Lernaean Hydra was killed by Heracles with the help of Iolaus as his second labour, but its aftermath proved as dangerous as its life. Heracles dipped his arrows in the Hydra's caustic blood, creating weapons that caused agonising and incurable wounds. These arrows later killed the centaur Chiron accidentally; Philoctetes was wounded by one and left on Lemnos for ten years; Heracles himself died when Deianeira, misled by the centaur Nessus, applied what she thought was a love charm to his robe — but it was Hydra blood. The same poison that ended the monster's life continued to cause tragedy for decades. This entry records the Hydra specifically under its role as source of poison, distinct from the creature entry, focusing on the blood's legacy.
Parents
Typhon,Echidna
Symbols
Fun Fact
The Hydra's blood arguably caused more deaths after the monster's own death than during its life — killing Chiron, incapacitating Philoctetes, and ultimately killing Heracles himself.
Explore Further
Lernaean Hydra
🐉 creatureMany-headed water serpent
The Hydra was a gigantic water serpent with multiple heads — when one was severed, two more grew in its place, making it seemingly impossible to kill.
Centaur
🐉 creatureCentaur whose dying gift killed Heracles
Nessus was the centaur whose poisoned blood, given as a false love charm, ultimately destroyed the invincible Heracles.
Hydra
🐉 creatureMulti-headed serpent of Lerna
A monstrous water serpent with multiple heads that grew two more whenever one was cut off. Slaying the Hydra was Heracles's second labor.
Nessus
🐉 creatureCentaur whose blood killed Heracles
Nessus was the centaur who tried to abduct Heracles' wife Deianira — and whose poisoned blood, given as a love charm, eventually killed the greatest hero.
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