History
Origin
The Hydra was the spawn of of the Titan Typhon and Echidna, the snake-goddess. Typhon was imprisoned under Mount Aetna after attacking the Olympian gods and Echidna fled to Arcadia where she gave birth to a host of numerous incredible creatures, each one more foul than the last. After Echidna was killed by Argus, the original sentry of Olympus, the Hydra found a home in the swamps of Lerna where it grew to immense size preying upon travelers through the region.[3]
Fin Fang Foom
Fin Fang Foom claimed to have met and beheaded the Hydra in Greece, circa 3,000 BC. Per Foom's words, the Hydra did not grow any new head.[4]
Twelve Labors of Hercules
In 1271, B.C. as part of his Twelve Labors, Hercules was sent by King Eurystheus of Mycenae as his second labor to kill the nine-headed Hydra at Lerna. Driving it out of the swamp with burning arrows, he quickly learned it grew two new heads for each one severed. With the help of Iolaus, Hercules used heated brands to cauterize each head and prevent new heads from forming. Burning the rest of the creature’s body, he collected enough of its venom to dip its arrows within and render them that much more potent. However, King Eurystheus later realized that Hercules had too much help from Iolaus in defeating the Hydra and refused to count this as one of the labors: After the tenth labor, he would add more labors.[5][6][7][8]
Quest for the Golden Fleece
Whilst on Argonauts' Quest for the Golden Fleece they were attacked by another Hydra. Hercules cut off it's head and pours a sealant on its neck, preventing it from regenerating. Eurytus praised Hercules that he always was the smartest one of them.[9]
20th Century
The Brotherhood of the Spear, during World War II, renamed itself after the monster because of their modus operandi on membership being based on its heads.[10]
Modern Era
In the modern era Hercules related his tale of battling the Hydra to a group of young New Yorkers in Central Park.[11]
The Collector had a Hydra as an exhibit at his Museum.[12]
Ares the God of War kept a Hydra at "Big Henri's Alligator Farm " in Louisiana. He collected some of the Hydra's blood in order to create weapon to use against Hercules.[5]Attributes
Powers
- Head Regeneration: For each head that it lost, it could regenerate two heads to replace the one which was lost. Its venom was particularly lethal.[5] Considering it could lose its heads so easily, it may not have had a very dense or hard external body to protect it from harm.[3]
- It might have been able to change color as a defense mechanism considering its various skin tones seen so far. [3]
- It also might have had near-sentient intelligence.[3]
Weaknesses
- Fire: It was vulnerable to fire since cauterizing its wounds from its severed heads prevented extra heads from growing back.[3]
See Also
- 9 appearance(s) of Lernean Hydra (Earth-616)
- 1 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Lernean Hydra (Earth-616)
- 4 minor appearance(s) of Lernean Hydra (Earth-616)
- 12 mention(s) of Lernean Hydra (Earth-616)
- 3 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Lernean Hydra (Earth-616)
- 13 image(s) of Lernean Hydra (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Typhon's entry
- ↑ Hercules (Vol. 3) #3
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #8
- ↑ Fin Fang Four Return! #1
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Incredible Hercules #113
- ↑ Hercules (Vol. 3) #1
- ↑ Avengers #43–44
- ↑ Thor and the Warriors Four #2
- ↑ Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed #1
- ↑ Strange Tales #135
- ↑ Thor #356
- ↑ Incredible Hulk #198
Warning: Default sort key "Hydra, The" overrides earlier default sort key "Lernean Hydra (Earth-00000000000000000616)".