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The Lernaean Hydra or Hydra of Lerna (Ancient Greek: Λερναῖα ὕδρα, romanized: Lernaîa Húdrā), more often known simply as the Hydra, is a serpentine lake monster in Greek mythology and Roman mythology. Its lair was the lake of Lerna in the Argolid, which was also the site of the myth of the Danaïdes.
Multi-headed can refer to: Polycephaly, the condition of having more than one head Lernaean Hydra, an ancient serpent-like chthonic water beast that possessed numerous heads; Multi-headed train, where two or more engines are used; Multi-monitor, multiple physical display devices running on a single computer system
First, according to Hesiod, there was Orthrus, [36] the two-headed dog who guarded the Cattle of Geryon, second Cerberus, [37] the multiheaded dog who guarded the gates of Hades, and third the Lernaean Hydra, [38] the many-headed serpent who, when one of its heads was cut off, grew two more.
Cerberus had several multi-headed relatives. His father was the multi snake-footed Typhon, [11] and Cerberus was the brother of three other multi-headed monsters, the multi-snake-headed Lernaean Hydra; Orthrus, the two-headed dog that guarded the Cattle of Geryon; and the Chimera, who had three heads: that of a lion, a goat, and a snake. [12]
Multi-headed dragons, like the eight-headed Yamata no Orochi and three-headed Trisiras above, are a common motif in comparative mythology. For instance, multi-headed dragons in Greek mythology include the 9-headed Lernaean Hydra and the 100-headed Ladon, both slain by Heracles.
The number of heads can be as high as nine, the higher the number the higher the rank. Odd-headed dragons are symbolic of male energy while even headed dragons symbolize female energy. Traditionally, a neak is distinguished from the often serpentine Makar and Tao, the former possessing crocodilian traits and the latter possessing feline traits.
The term's origins are found in its two syllables: Latin (archia) or the Greek ἄρχειν (archein) meaning “the rule of" [2] and the Ancient Greek ῠ̔́δρη (húdrē) Ionic or hīdrə (hudra) meaning "water snake," as defined by the Oxford English Dictionary. [3] Hydra, also applies the Greek mythological sea monster representation ...