In Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra was
an ancient nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast that
possessed many heads and for each head cut off it grew two more
— and poisonous breath so virulent even her tracks were
deadly.
The Hydra of Lerna was killed by Heracles as one of his Twelve
Labours. Its lair was the lake of Lerna in the Argolid, though
archaeology has borne out the myth that the sacred site was older
even than the Mycenaean city of Argos since Lerna was the site of
the myth of the Danaids. Beneath the waters was an entrance to the
Underworld, and the Hydra was its guardian.
Note: This cache was placed in
Jonathan Dickinson State Park as part of Cacheapalooza 5, with the
permission of Martin Morse, Park Service Specialist. If you park anywhere in JDSP, make sure all your tires are
off the road and you are not blocking any
gates.