Lerna on Greece's eastern Peloponnese near modern Milió was believed to be an entrance to the underworld through the Alcyonian Lake, which Pausanias called bottomless. Emperor Nero supposedly failed to sound its depths with weighted ropes. It was also home to the Lernian Hydra, slain by Heracles as his second labor. The springs were thought ritually purifying.
Mythology of Lerna: Hydra, Heracles, and entrance to the underworld
GreeceGeneral
Key facts
- Lerna was a region on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese, south of Argos near the modern village of Milió
- Lerna was held to be one of the entrances to the underworld, specifically through the Alcyonian Lake
- Greek geographer Pausanias described the Alcyonian Lake as bottomless; Emperor Nero reportedly failed to find its floor using ropes weighted with lead
- Lerna was the lair of the Lernian Hydra, the many-headed water serpent killed by Heracles as the second of his 12 labors
- Springs at Lerna were considered ritually cleansing; "A Lerna of ills" became proverbial for an excess of troubles
- The springs were mythologically a gift from Poseidon after he lay with Amymone, daughter of Danaus
Site mentioned
Sources
Ancient Lernaeternalgreece.com
The deadly, bottomless lake was believed to be an entrance to the Underworld. Dionysus, god of the wine harvest, reputedly entered and freed his ...
Lernaen.wikipedia.org
Heroes could gain entry to the netherworld via the Alcyonian Lake. Prosymnus aided Dionysus in his search for his mother Semele by guiding him to this entrance ...
Lerna | Religion and Philosophy | Research Startersebsco.com
Lerna possessed a dozen springs … the Amymone spring feeding the Halcyonian Lake (regarded as an entrance to the underworld), and the spring of Amphiaraus.
The Hydra's Lair: An Archaeological Guide to Prehistoric Lernagreece-is.com
The ancient Greeks also believed that Lake Lerna was one of the entrances to the Underworld, and the Hydra its gatekeeper. The Greek ...
Encyclopedia of Greek Mythology: Acrisiusmythweb.com
The wine-god Dionysus used the Alcyonian Lake as a portal to Hades when he rescued his mother Semele from the Underworld.
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