Herakles' second task was to kill the terrifying Hydra. This monster had the body of a dog and nine hideous heads that poured out poisonous breath. It lived in the land of Argos, in the swamp of Lerna.

Wearing his lion cloak and accompanied by his nephew Iolaus, his shield-bearer, Herakles set off for Argos. Deep in the murky swamp they found the gruesome Hydra. Each of its nine snakelike heads spat venom and hissed poisonous breath.

Herakles fired burning arrows at the monster then attacked it with a sword. But as soon as he had hacked off one head, two more grew in its place.