Hydra is best known as the sea serpent slain by Hercules during the second of his Twelve Labours. A monstrous offspring of Typhon and Echidna, she was a fearsome, multi-headed creature with deadly breath and poisonous blood.
According to myth, Hydra had nine heads — the central one immortal, which is the only head shown in the constellation. After defeating her, Hercules dipped his arrows in her poisonous blood, later using them to slay Ladon in his penultimate task.
Hydra also appears in the story of Corvus and the Crow, as the serpent who took the blame for delaying the bird’s return.
Hydra is the largest constellation in the night sky, spanning nearly a quarter of it. She is best seen between late March and June from almost anywhere except the polar regions.
This A5 watercolour comes with its own carefully researched History Note detailing the story behind the constellation. As Hydra is closely associated with a classic Greek tale, she would make the perfect gift for a mythology lover.
Hydra is best known as the sea serpent slain by Hercules during the second of his Twelve Labours. A monstrous offspring of Typhon and Echidna, she was a fearsome, multi-headed creature with deadly breath and poisonous blood.
According to myth, Hydra had nine heads — the central one immortal, which is the only head shown in the constellation. After defeating her, Hercules dipped his arrows in her poisonous blood, later using them to slay Ladon in his penultimate task.
Hydra also appears in the story of Corvus and the Crow, as the serpent who took the blame for delaying the bird’s return.
Hydra is the largest constellation in the night sky, spanning nearly a quarter of it. She is best seen between late March and June from almost anywhere except the polar regions.
This A5 watercolour comes with its own carefully researched History Note detailing the story behind the constellation. As Hydra is closely associated with a classic Greek tale, she would make the perfect gift for a mythology lover.
