Dragon of the Month: Lernaen Hydra

Lernaen Hydra

Hydrus lernaeus 
Size:20'
Recognition: Snake body with multiple necks and heads.
Habitat: Mediterranean seas, marshes and lakes
Classification: Draco/Hydradracoforme/
Hydridae/Hydrus/ H. lernaeus

 


















The Lernaen Hydra is one of the most famous species in the dragon class. Once quite common along the Mediterranean sea coasts and rivers, today the Lernaen Hydra is a rare find. Similar to other species in the Hydra family the Lernaen Hydra possesses multiple heads with which it uses to hunt for its prey along the river beds and lake sides. Primarily feeding on small rodents, fish and eels the Lernaen Hydra is usually not a threat to the human populations nearby. However its poisonous bite can kill a man if consecutive bites are suffered. Because of a historic fear of all dragons the Lernaen Hydra has been hunted extensively throughout the centuries leaving their populations greatly decreased.

The most famous accounts of the Lernaen Hydra is that depicted in the classical Greek legend of Hercules, who traveled to Lake Lernae in Greece to slay a specimen that lived there. This legend has produced a large number of works of art depicting the encounter.  A secondary legend of Hercules has the hero battling a one hundred headed hydra named Ladon.

The Lernaen Hydra
3rdC bc. Greek


The Lernaen Hydra
2nd C.ad. Roman Mosaic

Hercules and The Hydra
Gustave Moreau

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