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.

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.