

Hercules was aided by Iolaus who suggested searing the Hydra’s necks after Hercule’s cut them offĨ. Vanquishing the Hydra was Hercule’s second taskħ. Hercules had to serve King Eurystheus of Tiryns for 12 years and perform 10 labours for him so that he could be purified for killing his sons during a moment of insanityĦ. Was a long writhing water snake which resided in Lake Lernaĥ. Had nine horned dragon heads which would duplicate when cut offĤ. Related to the Chimera, Ceberus, and Ladon, the ferocious dragon protector of the garden of the Hesperides and its golden applesģ. Would be destroyed by seeing its own reflection in a mirror 3. Became known as the cockatrice in medieval times because of depictions with a cockerel’s head and feathered wingsġ5. These would counter the basilisk’s lethal powers: Land they passed through would become barren wastelandġ3. Streams and rivers they drank from would be permanently poisonedġ1. Noxious breath would wither trees and bushesġ0.

Could split boulders with a single glance from their deadly eyesĩ. Derived from the Greek word basileus meaning “little king”ħ. Large tuft on its head represented a crownĦ. One of the most feared monsters in the early Western worldģ. Basilisk Basilisk fountain in Basel, Switzerland. Came to symbolise envy, famine, war and hatred - this depiction of wyverns is associated with pestilence and viciousness 2.
