Herakles’ 2nd Labor: The Lernaian Hydra - “The Colors of the Etruscans” - The Recovered Artworks XX – Mythological Issues
Heracles second labor: the Hydra of Lerna.
On the side A) of this Attic black figure amphora attributed to the Michigan Painter there's the representation of one of the twelve labors inflicted on Hercules by Eurystheus: the killing of the Hydra of Lerna, one of the most ancient mythological subjects in the Greek art. The Hydra, an aquatic monster with multiple heads (from five to a hundred, according to ancient sources), son of Echidna and Tifone, was raised by Hera in the marsh of Lerna, in Argolis, under a plane tree, near the Amymone springs, just to be used as a trial for Hercules. The heads of the monster cut oft with the sword were able to regrow, nevertheless the hero managed to defeat it thanks to a trick inspired by Athena and calling for help his nephew lolaus: while the hero held the monster, lolaus cauterized every wound with embers taken from the fire set in the nearby forest, and this is the exact moment of the challenge reproduced in the amphora. It was well known that the head in the middle was immortal: Hercules cut it off, buried it and placed on it an enormous rock, then dipped his arrows in the blood of the Hydra, thus making them poisonous to the slightest scratch.
On side B) Hermes between two women.
Source: exhibition catalogue
Attic black figure amphora
H. 28.6; L. max. 18 cm.
Attributed to “The Michigan Painter”
530500 BC.
From Cerveteri (Caere)
Rome, Villa Giulia, Museo Nazionale Etrusco, Inv. No.106465
Exhibition “Colors of the Eruscans” - Cat N. 41
Rome, Centrale Montemartini
Herakles’ 2nd Labor: The Lernaian Hydra - “The Colors of the Etruscans” - The Recovered Artworks XX – Mythological Issues
Heracles second labor: the Hydra of Lerna.
On the side A) of this Attic black figure amphora attributed to the Michigan Painter there's the representation of one of the twelve labors inflicted on Hercules by Eurystheus: the killing of the Hydra of Lerna, one of the most ancient mythological subjects in the Greek art. The Hydra, an aquatic monster with multiple heads (from five to a hundred, according to ancient sources), son of Echidna and Tifone, was raised by Hera in the marsh of Lerna, in Argolis, under a plane tree, near the Amymone springs, just to be used as a trial for Hercules. The heads of the monster cut oft with the sword were able to regrow, nevertheless the hero managed to defeat it thanks to a trick inspired by Athena and calling for help his nephew lolaus: while the hero held the monster, lolaus cauterized every wound with embers taken from the fire set in the nearby forest, and this is the exact moment of the challenge reproduced in the amphora. It was well known that the head in the middle was immortal: Hercules cut it off, buried it and placed on it an enormous rock, then dipped his arrows in the blood of the Hydra, thus making them poisonous to the slightest scratch.
On side B) Hermes between two women.
Source: exhibition catalogue
Attic black figure amphora
H. 28.6; L. max. 18 cm.
Attributed to “The Michigan Painter”
530500 BC.
From Cerveteri (Caere)
Rome, Villa Giulia, Museo Nazionale Etrusco, Inv. No.106465
Exhibition “Colors of the Eruscans” - Cat N. 41
Rome, Centrale Montemartini