The slaying of the Hydra Dragon

In the Greek mythology, one of the better known dragon books, there exists a creature that is no doubt a dragon, though it is not called by that name.

The Hydra had ravaged the country of Argos and its lair was near the well of Amymone. The Hydra was huge, it had nine head of which the central one was immortal. It had a reptilian body as depicted on all accounts of this creature. It also had poisonous blood and poisonous breath. It was said the Hydra had the power to make all the fishes in a river inedible because of its poison.

Therefore, we can safely conclude that a huge reptilian creature with a fearsome reputation, nine heads and poison breath is indeed a dragon and can be proudly added to the collection of dragon book stories.

Hercules, the great hero, the son of Zeus, undertook twelve great labors. Hera, Zeus's wife, was jealous and angry that her husband sired sons from his concubines. One of these sons was Hercules and jealousy would play an important part in his life.

Hera had even sent snakes to kill Hercules in his infancy but the babe strangled them with his bare hands. Later, Hera caused Hercules to risk his life with his twelve great labors.

Hercules went to do battle with the Hydra, unafraid of this huge scaly dragon, armed with his huge club and accompanied by his faithful servant.

The battle begun and Hercules saw that his club was powerless to harm the Hydra's body, as the great scales that protected this dragon's body were too thick.

Hercules then turned to the Hydra's heads. With his strength Hercules managed to sever some of its heads but any head the Hydra lost was soon regenerated and the dragon grew another head.

But then Hercules applied fire to the neck of any neck he severed and the dragon's regeneration failed. Hercules buried the Hydra under a great boulder and the monster was vanquished.

But every dragon book has a twisted plot and the Hydra's tale is no exception. Hercules dipped an arrow in the slain dragon's poisonous blood and shot and killed a centaur. Later, when Hercules's wife thought he was unfaithful to her she sent him a robe tainted by the centaur's blood. And so, as often befalls slayers of monsters in dragon book, Hercules was killed by the poison of the Hydra he slew.

This dragon book account cannot be complete without mentioning that there was a sighting of another Hydra, possessing fifty heads. This fearsome dragon was seen guarding the outer gates of the nether world.

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