The Hydra, and Constellation Theory

The Hydra

I started by looking up the Hydra.  Classically the Hydra was a "water serpent" with several heads, which if you cut one off would grow two back again.  It makes perfect sense that this station would be called 'Hydra', being once (still?) an underwater aquarium.  It supposedly lived in the Lake of Lerna...

though archaeology has borne out the myth that the sacred site was older even than the Mycenaean city of Argos, for Lerna was the site of the myth of the Danaids. Beneath the waters was an entrance to the Underworld, and the Hydra was its guardian (the wikipedia article)

The Twelve Labours of Hercules

The Hydra, as it turns out, was one of the twelve labours of Hercules. The specifics of this battle aren't that relevant (I think) but it seems the only way to kill the Hydra was to scorch the freshly-cut necks before the heads could grow back.  Of more interest is another of the other twelve labours, namely the Stymphalian Birds.  One of which (at least in the stars) is Cygnus, the Swan.  (See where this is going yet?)  Hercules frightened the birds away with a lot of noise, and by firing an arrow(!) at them.

Constellation Theory

Now, here's where it starts to get really interesting.  Being that the Hydra (well Cetus, the sea monster), Cygnus, and the Arrow (Sagittarius) and "Serpens" which is often associated with the twin-serpents wrapped around a pole (i.e. the medical hatch.) are all constellations.  And then I found this link. => Constellation Theory.

Forgetting for a moment the importance of the numbers to the constellations, notice how FOUR of those are now accounted for.  Put that in your Jesus stick and beat on it for a while.

The Pearl

In that link it notes that they're unsure how "The Pearl" fits into this theory.  Well here's my explanation:

The "Pearl" Station was underneath the plane right in the middle of the map John discovered, right?  It's my theory that the "Pearl" is representative of the Earth as it relates to the other constellations.  Consider that the sole purpose of the Pearl was the observation of the other stations, and that allows it to fit right in!  Also makes for a nice bit of symbolism with the plane crashing to earth and all...

The Remaining Stars...

So that leaves us with what to do with the constellations that are left there, "Draco" (The Dragon) and "Coma Berenices" (Ariadne's or Berenice's Hair).  I'm not even going to offer up speculation on where or how they'll fit in, but I'm betting they do.  Read the associated mythology entries, and come up with your own theory!

Of More Interest....

Forgetting the religious nature of this article, Enoch's Constellations Testify of Christ, read it.  While doing so be aware of the various symbols and constellations they talk about, and realize there are a lot of similarities, some more obvious than others to the things, people, places, and events on the island.  Like Jack "Shepherd", John Locke the "Hunter", The "Infant Prince" (Aaron?), the dog, the bear, the ship (Black Rock?) and notice how the Hydra, Cygnus, and Serpens all make an appearance.

That's something to think about.

So What?

I don't know.  Like so much with the show it could all be random coincidence.  It could be the writers just glomming onto mythological symbolism and taking the bits and pieces they like.  It could be us wacky LOST theorists trying to make sense of things the discordant images and symbols that permeate the show.

In any case it makes for some interesting reading, and kinda makes you scratch your head a bit.

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