The Hydra
The Hydra
How to identify the Hydra
If you encounter a monster during a mission that looks like a giant lizard with nine long, snake-like necks... then it's most likely a hydra! You definitely need to watch out for it.
It can spit poisonous acid from all of its mouths, and not even stones are safe from it. They are simply corroded away. If you think you can defeat it in battle, that might be impossible for a puny demigod child.
Why, you ask? Have you seen its diamond-shaped heads? If you chop them off, two new heads will grow back from the stump. The neck swells up just before regrowth – that's a sign that you've only made things worse!
Brief History
Typhon and Echidna are the parents of the Lernaean Hydra. It takes its name from the place it terrorised with its venom: the kingdom of Lerna. Hercules was given the task of slaying this monster. This would be his second task of twelve.
When Hercules realised that Hydra grew two new heads for every head he cut off, he urgently needed help from his nephew Iolaos. Hercules chopped off the heads and Iolaos burned the stumps. This prevented new heads from growing. The middle, immortal head was also decapitated and buried under a huge rock.
Nowadays, we can encounter a wide variety of Hydra species. One of them even attacked our golden trio, but this creature is currently languishing in Tartarus and regenerating itself.
What to do, if you face the Hydra
1) Do as Hercules did! Cut off its heads and burn the stumps.
2) Complete destruction – this means you can use extreme explosions or powerful firepower against the Hydra. It will be torn to shreds before it even has a chance to think about regenerating!
3) Petrification! Yes, if you have Medusa's head (or something with similar abilities), you can simply petrify the Hydra. Then you'll have a pretty statue for your garden!
4) Find the source of its life energy. Most of the time, these monsters are doughnut shops! If you destroy them, the Hydra will weaken!
Sources & Credits
Information from Riordan Wiki - Hydra
Written by Ece Akbulut