Hercules and the Hydra

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Eric Lo

The modern restoration of this statue was completed by Alessandro Algardi in the seventeenth century and was rediscovered at the Church of Sant’Agnese fuori le Mura. The original statue was completed in the Early Hellenistic period and was attributed to the Greek sculptor Lysippus. Lysippus was also credited with the creation of Hercules’ other labors. Algardi’s reconstruction is made of marble and stands at a height of 200 cm.

            A nude man is depicted grappling with a monster possessing multiple serpentine heads. The figure is holding a torch to one of the several decapitated snake torsos, which seem to be emerging from the body of a different animal: perhaps a wolf. Although the statue is a single snapshot of action, the man’s larger size in comparison to the beast as well as his dominant position seems to indicate his triumph. Additionally, his built stature suggests strength.

            Without any prior knowledge of the exact nature of the statue, one would be able to deduce the man’s identity based on the context. The beast that the figure is cauterizing is most easily identified as the Hydra by the multiple snake heads. With this knowledge, the man can then be identified as Hercules completing one of his labors.

            My initial draw to this statue was its violent and aggressive nature. Hercules, in the nude, is simultaneously grappling and cauterizing the Hydra’s decapitated heads. Although I had trouble identifying a majority of the statues in the Capitoline Museum, this one only took me a few seconds. I was able to bridge the connection from the multiple snake head monster to the Hydra, and from there to the labors of Hercules.

             As mentioned before, this statue represents the fight between Hercules and the Hydra of Lerna. Confronting the Hydra was the second of Hercules’ twelve labors. The beast possessed nine heads, one of which was immortal and therefore rendered the monster, which already possessed a venomous bite, practically undefeatable. For this task, along with many others, Hercules was accompanied by his nephew Iolaus. The pair found the Hydra’s lair by the springs of Amymone. With flaming arrows, Hercules lured the Hydra out of its lair. Once the monster appeared, Hercules seized it. In the ensuing fight, the hydra coiled around Hercules’ legs. This is the moment captured by the Lysippus’ statue. Hercules was able to bash a number of the Hydra’s heads but each time, two would replace the previous one. Finally, Hercules enlisted the help of Iolaus, who took a torch to the decapitated heads before they could regenerate. After killing off the eight mortal ends, Hercules finally moved on to kill the ninth head. He repeated the process, cauterizing the gaping head wound and thus preventing the head from regenerating. For the head itself, he buried it in the ground next to the road between Lerna and Elaeus. Unfortunately, Eurystheus discredited Hercules’ labor based on the fact that Hercules had enrolled the help of his newphew Iolaus. Nevertheless, the ancient authors still give Hercules credit for the task.