Which mythical creature with many heads did Hercules defeat by placing its heads under a rock?

Which mythical creature with many heads did Hercules defeat by placing its heads under a rock?

• A. Hydra
• B. Chimera
• C. Cyclops
• D. Cerberus

Answer: (A)

Hydra, a many-headed serpent, is the creature Hercules faced during his twelve labors. The defining challenge is that cutting off a head causes two more to grow, so defeating it requires a method to prevent regeneration. The usual solution is to sever a head and immediately cauterize the wound to stop new heads from forming, with help from Iolaus; in some tellings they also placed the severed heads under a rock to keep them from regrowing and dealt with the immortal head separately. This combination of many heads and regenerative difficulty is what makes Hydra the right match for the clue. The Chimera is a composite monster with multiple animal parts, the Cyclops is a single-eyed giant, and Cerberus is a three-headed guard dog, none of which fit the regenerating-head idea.