Hercules (Heracles) and Hydra

myminifactory

This powerful sculpture tells the legendary story of Hercules battling Hydra. The second mighty task assigned to Heracles was to vanquish the ferocious water serpent Lernaean Hydra. Armed with his trusty club, he shattered the numerous heads of the beast but as soon as one fell, two more sprang forth from its place. The cunning Hydra had also wrapped itself around one of Heracles' feet, leaving him unable to move. Recognizing that brute force alone wouldn't be enough to defeat the Hydra, he summoned Iolaus for aid. As Heracles smashed the multiple heads of the beast, Iolaus applied a fiery torch to the severed neck stumps. With only the immortal head remaining, Heracles is believed to have either ripped it off with his bare hands or chopped it off with a golden sword gifted by Athena.