Which many-headed monster did Hercules defeat by placing its final head under a large rock?

Which many-headed monster did Hercules defeat by placing its final head under a large rock?

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

Answer: (C)

The situation hinges on a creature with many heads and a trick to stop them from growing back. The Hydra is famous for this: when Hercules cut off a head, more would sprout in its place, making it nearly impossible to defeat by simple decapitation. The turning point comes from a method to prevent regrowth—burying the final head beneath a large rock (often with the stumps being burned so they won’t regrow). That combination—many heads and the final head secured under a rock—points to the Hydra. The other options don’t fit this pattern: Chimera is a fire-breathing composite creature, Cerberus is a three-headed guard dog, and Cyclops is a single-eyed giant.