Karkinos’s Connections

About Karkinos →

Allied with

• Lernaean Hydra

  Hera sent the giant crab Carcinus to aid the Lernaean Hydra against Heracles during the Second Labor. The crab pinched Heracles's foot while he fought the serpent, but he crushed it underfoot.

Slain by

• Heracles

  Heracles crushed the giant crab Carcinus underfoot during his battle with the Lernaean Hydra. Hera had sent Carcinus to distract Heracles by clamping onto his foot.

Associated with

• Hera

  Hera sent the giant crab Karkinos from the swamps of Lerna to attack Heracles during his battle with the Hydra, but the hero crushed it underfoot, and Hera placed it among the stars as the constellation Cancer.

• Iolaus

  Carcinus attacked Heracles during the battle at Lerna while Iolaus assisted the hero by cauterizing the Hydra's neck stumps. Both were present at the same confrontation during the Second Labor.