Lerna

A region of springs and a former lake near the east coast of the Peloponnese, south of Argos, where the Hydra roamed. Heracles killed the monster as one of his Twelve Labors.

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Lerna came also to mean a very great evil. "Spain was a Lerna of ills to all Europe while it aspired to universal monarchy." - P. Motteaux. Preface to Rabelais.

References

Source

  • Cobham Brewer, E. (2001). The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Cassell reference.